Revisiting the prodigal son parable (Luke 15:11-32) always reminds me of the richness of the story and the underlying lessons that it holds. What comes to mind on this reading is the phrase “what have you done for me lately?” If asked of the younger son by the father, the honest answer would seemingly be: “While causing you angst I have taken half of your hard-earned belongings, sold, lost, or thrown them around in ‘riotous living.’” If asked of the younger brother by the older brother, the honest answer would seemingly be: “Not a damn thing. I’ve been out having fun running through my inheritance.” Yet those responses draw wildly dissimilar reactions. One gets the sense that the father will never hold the younger son’s transgressions against him, while the older brother always will.
All of which goes to show just how important perspective and attitude are.
It occurs to me... 