In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the familiar parable of the prodigal son. As I think about it, the father must have felt heartbroken and distraught when the younger son requested to obtain a share of his father’s inheritance. Typically, one’s inheritance will only be distributed to the children upon one’s demise. In this context, however, the request was made by the son while his father was still alive. The father neither reprimanded nor turned down his son for making such an absurd request, but instead, freely distributed the wealth between his two sons. The father had respected his younger son’s decision, and was willing to let go although he may have felt that his younger son was not ready to manage his inheritance. The younger son wanted to exercise his right as a son to claim part of the inheritance so he could travel to a distant land and indulge in worldly pleasures. He no longer wanted to be subjected under his father’s authority. His conduct evidently shows disregard for his father’s feelings. He was unfilial and self-centered. He had made a choice without thoroughly considering the consequences of his action.
It may seem just and reasonable to the elder son to be angry over his father’s decision to host a celebrated feast for his younger brother. In his eyes, he proved to be a worthier son who demonstrated responsibility and obedience to his father by laboring hard. He was, however, blinded by his self-righteousness and rationalization in believing that his deeds deserved greater recognition from his father. The root problem is that he saw himself as a servant or slave to his father, rather than a son who was working for the good pleasure of his father. He displayed a jealous, judgmental, unforgiving and uncompassionate spirit toward his younger brother.
What does this parable remind us of in regard to our relationship with our Heavenly Father? Do we make requests or demands of God which we think it is our right to receive? Is our relationship with God established on the premise that “if God has blessed me more, then I will love him more” or “if I were to give God more, then he would bless me more”? Both premises are conditional in their expression to give with strings attached. Our relationship with God then becomes superficial and the motivation to give is thus based on how much I will reap from the return of God’s blessing. We invariably become more concerned with God’s gifts than him as the giver. Jesus has used this parable to help us understand the heart of the Father. Our heavenly Father has already given us the most precious gift, His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us from the slavery of sin.