Luke 15-B "Cain & Abel Redux"

S = 15:28-32 “But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

O = The older son was not happy to see the prodigal return and refused to enter the celebration that the father had ordered. Thought the father come out to entreat him, the older son bitterly and unfairly scolds his father…perhaps in the hearing of others. His argument is flawed in at least two ways: (1) He is disobeying the father by not entering in, despite the special invitation; (2) The fatted calf is for him to enjoy as well, if he will only partake of it. The ending is a cliff-hanger that allows the Pharisees to write their own ending to the parable. The argument of the older son sounds very much like the envy that was present in Cain (Gen. 4) before he killed Abel. There God himself “comes out to entreat” Cain. It seems that the older son would rather have seen the younger son stay “dead!” Here the younger son lives…and it is Jesus who is killed in his place.

A = Do I think I deserve better than others? Am I envious of others when God blesses them? Do I tend to sit “outside” and sulk at my own selfish grievances? I need to enjoy what the Father enjoys, recognizing and remembering the two ever-present reasons for joy found in verse 31 (the Father is ever with me; and all that he has is mine) now supplemented by the return of the lost (v. 32). The “fatted calf” is for all who will share in the joy of the Father, for me as much as for anyone else!

P = O Lord, may I not be deceived to trust in my own worthiness or sense of entitlement, but may I enter in with your joy because you are my Father and I get to be with you! May many return to you and be embraced and celebrated by your family the church. May I never think that I am a better judge or more righteous than you God. Thank you for loving us and celebrating our return. Amen.