The not-so-prodigal son

Having it all

There is a line in this parable that sings out. To recap: The black sheep of the family has gone squandering, changed his mind and come home, to be feted by his father. The elder son is angry. His father comes out to him, meeting him on his own ground, as it were, and the son says “It’s not fair!”

And what does the father say to this sullen and resentful young man? “My son, you I have always with me, and everything I have is yours.”

In a readership of this size, there must be a few people aware of some inner fault. Selfishness, perhaps, or ill-will, or something else. Perhaps sullenness and resentment. And you might think you must purify yourself of this fault to become worthy of the love of God.

Not so.

We are all getting older, and I think it is common when one’s most vigorous years are behind one to think--was that it? Is that all? Did I waste my life?

If some of you are musing on this, I hope you hear God’s Word speaking to you:

My child, you I have always with me, and everything I have is yours.

What more could any of us wish to hear?

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