The Prodigal Son (Sunday Sermon)

I wanted to put this in a "religious discussion" rather than a "religious debates" room, but could not find one... I guess comparative religion comes close, but I don't want to compare either - but instead to have everyone civilly discuss the same topic that we have all perhaps seen from different angles.

Anyways, another one of my children will soon be getting baptized, and as part of their "coming into the age of accountability" celebration, (we don't baptize babies, but wait for them to be old enough to make the choice on their own) I write them each a parable, some attempt to pass along words of wisdom - so I wanted to post the rough draft of the story here, and get you guys to help edit/comment/critique it.

It's for a middle child, who is both an older, and a younger, brother. [FONT=&quot]The original story does not have an ending, and it does not fill in very many details, so I’ve tried to do that. It’s not really a story about two different people either, I think it’s really more of a story of the two halves of ourselves. There is part of us in each of the brothers, and there has to be some way to reconcile those two halves.

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Two Brothers

A certain man had two sons… The oldest son was a hard-working righteous child who honored his parents and was honored by them in return. Friends and distant relatives praised his noble character and admonished their children to be more like him. He was the subject of praise and envy, of high expectations, trust, and pride.

As time went by, the man was blessed with another son. If you have lived in a family with more than one child, you already know some of the stereotypes which surround both the first born, and the baby of the family. The elder son is blessed with the advantage of age and will always be a little more experienced, wise, and talented than the younger members of the family. The younger members are constantly compared to their older, better, smarter sibling without ever having the ability to quite measure up. And so it was that one day, the younger son in despair asked his Father for his inheritance, and left the home of his birth.

As the younger son traveled through the countryside, he was confronted with something he had never experienced before – praise. He worked hard in the various farms and establishments he came across for board and lodging. Rather than being criticized for not working as well or as hard as his elder brother, he was now appreciated for his work. The younger son came from a well-to-do refined family and this background gave him an advantage in comparison with most of the other vagabonds which roamed the countryside. For the first time in his life the younger son was held in high esteem by those around him.

The younger son loved the praise and appreciation he was now given, but lacked the maturity to wear the mantle that was placed upon his shoulders. The less fortunate gathered around the younger son for help and support, and he helped them in the only way he knew how. He gave away his inheritance rather than scolding them to “work harder” as he had been scolded. He gave them unconditional love as they wanted to be loved rather than distance himself from them as he had been distanced. Some said the younger son wasted his substance with riotous living. The younger son was not trying to be evil though, he was only trying to be close and appreciated by those around him.

We are influenced by, and become like, those we form relationships with. It did not take long for the younger son to become like those in the far country he found himself in. No longer was he the strange novel wealthy tourist. The younger son became a fellow citizen like everyone else. His previous notoriety dimmed and vanished, praise vanished, and his inheritance slipped away. When sickness and famine swept through the far country, the younger brother found himself alone competing with pigs for food.


With gnawing pains in his stomach, the younger brother thought back to the great feasts in the home of his birth. How he yearned for the succulent lamb and tender greens of his parent’s table. I will arise and go to my father, reasoned the younger son, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

The younger son thought of the kindly servants whom he had grown up with. Unlike his family, the servants had never looked down on him. He realized how much love he had received from his nursemaid, and thought of the many acts of kindness that had been shown to him by all the humble servants. They had been there for him before, and perhaps they would not mind if he was allowed to join with them again. And so it was that the younger son stood up and started walking down the road back to his home – back to the servants which he loved and had loved him.

Twas not a servant, but his father, who first recognized and ran out to greet him as the young son neared the old house though. As a child we see our parents as parents instead of people. In that moment, the younger son started to see his father as a person – a person who had recognized the struggles of the younger son; a person who loved him enough to give him the resources and freedom to go into the world and learn those things that could not be learned at home.

The elder son pouted when the younger was given robe and ring and fatted calf. The elder could not at first understand the merry music and dancing for the one who has gained wisdom. The first year back home was marked with both joys and sorrows. A joyful reunion, but with sorrow over lost memories and an awkwardness over the lost familiarity which comes between people who have been separated for some period of time. The young son had to get to know everyone all over again. He had to make amends the best he could towards those whom he had hurt, the last of which, was his brother.

On the anniversary of his return, after a year of hard work, the youngest brother had saved up enough to give robe and ring and his best fatted calf to the elder brother. The younger honored his elder brother with singing and dancing and feasting the likes of which no one had ever seen before. At the end of the evening, the younger brother knelt weeping in front of his elder brother, asking for forgiveness and wishing for brotherhood. The elder brother took him up in his arms, forgave him, and asked the younger brother for forgiveness – for not receiving him back home with the warmth and joy he should have had. There were tears and hugs all around between friends and family, who, after a year of being together, had finally become truly united once more.

In the coming years the humble younger son became a treasured friend and confidant among those around him. No one felt embarrassed or little around him because he had descended below them all. The humble younger son listened to others, and when he spoke or gave advice he did so humbly through personal experience rather than merely from a book. Although forgiven, the humble younger son worked hard always mindful of where other roads lead. The elder son also worked hard and prospered through his industry and thrift. The elder son was honored by all for his steadfast obedience and charity, the younger was honored for his humility and understanding. The next generation who grew up in that household never knew all the details behind a certain annual celebration, but they did know that their family was distinguished above others by the love and care which everyone had for one another.

Luke 16:8
…the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

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My mom just sent me an email after she read it, and shared some quotes others had made about the prodigal son:

"This has been fitly called the crown and pearl of all the parables the Gospel within the Gospel!" - D. S. Clark, D.D.

"Its beauty and its pathos are unequaled in the realm of fiction."R. H. McKim, D.D.

"It is more like a complete allegory than any other of our Lord's parables."New Century Bible.

"No other parable has touched so many hearts."-W. E. Burton, D.D ---- "How grandly this illustrates to us the Love of God, its lengths and breadths and heights and depths!"

and this poem:

PRODIGAL RETURN!​

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"Return, return!" thy Father's voice is pleading,
"Tho' far astray, I bid thee turn again!
Thy robe is rent, thy tender feet are bleeding,
Thy heart is faint and sick with famine pain:
Return, my child: a welcome here awaits thee;
No longer in the distant country rove;
Resist the cruel tempter that belates thee,
And keeps thee from my dwelling and my love."​

Return, return! Thy Father's loving-kindness
Thou long hast scorned, and done his grace despite;
Yet in his touch is healing for thy blindness,
And he can turn thy darkness into light.
Return in all thy rags of sin's defilement;
Return with all thy want and sore distress;
Thy Father's voice bespeaks his reconcilement:
Flee to his breast, and there thy guilt confess.​

Return, return! Thy substance hath been wasted--
Thou hast not aught to bring but thy poor heart;
Yet art thou longing for the bread once tasted,
And for his paths of peace, and faith's good part?
Return, for why shouldst thou delay the pardon
Thy Father's great compassion waits to grant!
Arise and go, before thy doubts shall harden
The homesick yearnings of the penitent.​

Return, return! Leave thou the swine and famine
And seek again the plenty of thy home!
Why dost thou toil among the husks of mammon,
When to his rest the Father bids thee come?
Return thou to his arms, his kiss, his blessing;
Accept the robe, the sandals, and the ring;
And there, thy sinfulness and guilt confessing,
Thou shalt be found, lost treasure of the King!​

Return, return! The angel-hosts bend o'er thee--
They wait to bear the tidings' joyful sound.
They have beheld the Savior dying for thee,
And will rejoice to sing, The lost is found!
Return, for he will heal all thy backsliding--
Will love thee freely, and will thus forgive;
Come, weary soul, rest in his love abiding.
Thou hast been dead--arise to-day and live!
F. G. BURROUGHS.
​

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I agree it is an amazing parable, I just do not see how it aptly fits one so young.