A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[235] Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32.

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“Your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.” – Luke 15:32

This story is familiar to all of us.  It’s a story about coming home, forgiveness, acceptance, humility, and, perhaps unexpectedly, indignation.  It’s that last bit, the indignation, that I’d like to focus on in this reflection.  Usually, when I think of the prodigal son, I remember the son who squandered the blessings of his father and the father who embraced that same son after he seemingly lost it all.  However, I tend to forget about the older brother, the faithful son who balks at his father’s generosity and favor when his younger brother returns.  It’s a feeling I think we can all relate to, one we would likely have as an initial gut reaction as well if we were in those shoes.  Yet, I think that the older brother misunderstands his father entirely, and, if I had to guess, I would say that the father is confused by his eldest son’s reaction.  It seems as though the older son is assuming that his father is rewarding his younger brother inappropriately and unjustly, giving him attention and reward when he probably was deserving of reprimand.  Yet, from the father’s perspective, I don’t think it’s a matter of reward or praise; it’s a simple matter of joy.  The father is elated at his son’s return, period.  The past is not what counts.  The father is more than willing to look past, perhaps not even see his younger son’s failings, because of the fact that he freely chose to return. 

The story is one that is repeated many times in our lives.  We stumble and fall into darkness and sorrow many times as we live.  Perhaps some of us never leave it.  But that does not change the fact that God, the ultimate, mysterious Love, is ever-present, waiting patiently with open arms for our return.