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Jesus describes a young man who wants adventure and asks for his share of his father’s estate. After he receives his inheritance, he leaves and lives a carefree life. I want to draw your attention to the fact that he did not earn the money he is spending, it is his father’s hard-earned money. This would be a good time to pause and reflect on the many opportunities that we enjoyed but did not earn.

Coming back to the story we learn that initially the son did okay, but his fun did not last, and calamity struck. He squandered his resources and was forced to get a job. Hearing that his job was tending the pigs surely raised the eyebrows of the first listeners of this story. Likely the Jewish listeners with their aversion to pigs would have seen this action in the young man as turning his back on his own culture and community.

Jesus continues the story but focusses on the father. The father notices his son from far away. He is so excited that he runs to meet his son. This would have been very surprising to the Jewish listeners. Jewish patriarchs do not run, especially toward a wayward son. The son gives his rehearsed apology. The father responds by hugging his son and putting a ring on his finger. The ring symbolizes the son being restored in the household. While the son is focusing on what he did and what he didn’t do the father is focusing on the fact that his son is back safe and sound. Not only is the son forgiven but a party is being planned.

The story does not end here. There is an older son...