We did this Lectio Divina in my RCIA class. I was ready for this one; I already have been thinking about this parable the whole time I've been in this class. I often referred to myself as the prodigal son multiple times silently to myself.
Before this class, I never really understood the message of the story. But I began to realize that I was like the younger son in the sense that I took God's gift of life and turned away from Him and used my gift to fit my own needs. When I began to come back to God, I realized the error of my ways and how I needed to put my selfish wants aside (which is still really hard).
Well, in class, we listened to the priest read the gospel reading for this Sunday, which is the same as the one at the end of my blog post. Then, instead of writing it down like I do, we have a table discussion about it. This time the priest said to discuss which brother are we: the older or younger brother?
At our table, people started going around saying that they were definitely the older brother. One person added that you never see if the older brother went into the house to celebrate. Another person chimed in that you also never see if the younger brother actually changed his ways. "A zebra never changes their stripes," she said. Many people agreed with this sentiment. I was feeling uneasy about my perception of the story at this point. Then the priest called the group together and said that he had to spend a whole semester on this one parable and his whole class thought this story through inside and out. Okay, I had some hope now, that maybe my understanding of it wasn't so odd, I'm sure that the priests-to-be thought of it as I did. No, he went on the perspective of himself because he actually is the oldest of like eight kids and how he could see that the younger brother was just rehearsing what he would say to his father (making it seem like the younger brother was disingenuous). I was disappointed after that too.
After the priest's interjection, we turned back to our table discussion. Everyone was still agreeing about being the older brother. And then I said meekly, "I am the younger brother." My whole table fell completely silent at my words. I felt like I had to break the silence by adding, "I never slept with prostitutes." That got a few chuckles. But I went into what I briefly stated before. I ended with, "But I came back to God. I hope that he too is glad that I did." I wasn't planning on saying that last part; it just came out. However, that last part changed the whole demeanor of the group. Now they were sympathetic instead of being rather judgmental. I think that it humanized the perspective of the younger brother. The whole reason that Jesus is telling this parable is because of the righteous people (the scribes and Pharisees) were complaining because Jesus was sitting with sinners.
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this parable: "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses, he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here I am, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.'"So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in field and on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"
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