Finish the story! (From Saturday's Gospel)

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Lk 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 am I, 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 the 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.’”

At Mass this morning Father said that the greatest storyteller in history seems to have left this one unfinished and suggested that we each finish it in our hearts.

How does this parable end?
Pax vobiscum,
 
If I have to be pinned down I would stick with the brother refusing to come in (Luke 15:28). The father goes out and wants him to come in telling “we must celebrate and rejoice…” but there is no indication if the brother actually did so or not.
 
that is for the listener to answer. as with every parable the first question to ask is: who is Jesus speaking to, in what context? What has transpired that moves him to tell the story? He is speaking to the pharisees who have just criticized him for eating at table, even celebrating, in the company of sinners, so his message is for them.

Therefore the prodigal son and the father are the back story. the older brother and his attitude is the heart of the parable, and the challenge Jesus poses to the listener. What is our attitude as the “saved” the “initiated” the “good guys” to the sinners among us, especially the sinners who have repented, are in the process of repenting and conversion, and who seek to join us?
 
A little-noted line in the story is the father telling his older son “everything that I have is yours.” Yes, the younger son was welcomed back into the family, but that didn’t mean that he got another share of the inheritance when the father died. So with that assurance from the father, I daresay the older son welcomed his brother back.
  • Liberian
 
I voted for #2, the older son goes inside.

That’s what I would do in his palce. For my father’s sake, I’d at least act civil to my rat of a younger brother.
 
Ezekiel tells us how Christ’s Prodigal Son parable will pan out on judgement day.

NAB LUK 15:25
Meanwhile the elder son was out on the land. As he neared the house on his way home, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked him the reason for the dancing and the music. The servant answered, Your brother is home, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has him back in good health. The son grew angry at this and would not go in; but his father came out and began to plead with him… He said to his father in reply: For years now I have slaved for you. I never disobeyed one of your orders. yet you never gave me so much as a kid goat to celebrate with my friends. Then, when this son of yours returns after having gone through your property with loose women, you kill the fatted calf for him.

NAB EZE 18:23

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
 
Steven Merten:
Ezekiel tells us how Christ’s Prodigal Son parable will pan out on judgement day.

NAB EZE 18:23
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?I think that this is an inference that is not really there.

The older son does not turn away from God. He simply complains.
One thing that I failed to mention is that Father also said that how we finish this parable offers us an insight into our own view of compassion and forgiveness. :ehh:
 
I responded to this thread bychoosing the second choice. I chose number 2 based on my poor understanding of modern scriptural studies.

In my opinion, I think both Christ Jesus and Luke himeslf was directing this part of the parable towards the Jewish community, which we know from the Gospels that a large percentage of people especially the Jewish leaders, rejected Jesus and His message and ministry. Think of how many in Like we read of performing a mircle only to have the meaning of that mircle rejected by the leaders because it was done on the Sabbath.
So the tention between the religious leaders of Jesus’ time a Jesus is well chronicled.

Also we know from historical research, that at the time of this Gospel’s writting there was bitter dispute between the Jewish and Christian communities over the orthodoxy of the Christian way of lfe in light of the Law especially with the large influx of gentiles who were becomming Christian. This tention finally lead to a rejection of Christ and Christian by the Jewish leaders, through out the known world when Christians were finally voted out of the synagogues (in effect Christian Jews were excommunicated).

So just using history itself, I would say that the son remained outside of the banquet.

However, this also has an important message for us as well. The message being the oldest son put the Law ( or laws) infront of being open to an act of love. The son was blinded by such a strict adherence to what “Rightfully” his and was so blinded by being a “Faithful” son he missed the who dynamics of the Father’s love in action.

So although I am convinced that the immediate object of this part of the parable was directed to the Jewish Community and especially its leaders Christ in His wisdom was challenging us, His followers to be open at all times to the works of God’s Love even if, in our own judgement, God’s actions are unjust and unfair to us, His faithful followers.
 
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TEME525:
I responded to this thread bychoosing the second choice. I chose number 2 based on my poor understanding of modern scriptural studies.

In my opinion, I think both Christ Jesus and Luke himeslf was directing this part of the parable towards the Jewish community, which we know from the Gospels that a large percentage of people especially the Jewish leaders, rejected Jesus and His message and ministry. Think of how many in Like we read of performing a mircle only to have the meaning of that mircle rejected by the leaders because it was done on the Sabbath.
So the tention between the religious leaders of Jesus’ time a Jesus is well chronicled.

Also we know from historical research, that at the time of this Gospel’s writting there was bitter dispute between the Jewish and Christian communities over the orthodoxy of the Christian way of lfe in light of the Law especially with the large influx of gentiles who were becomming Christian. This tention finally lead to a rejection of Christ and Christian by the Jewish leaders, through out the known world when Christians were finally voted out of the synagogues (in effect Christian Jews were excommunicated).

So just using history itself, I would say that the son remained outside of the banquet.

However, this also has an important message for us as well. The message being the oldest son put the Law ( or laws) infront of being open to an act of love. The son was blinded by such a strict adherence to what “Rightfully” his and was so blinded by being a “Faithful” son he missed the who dynamics of the Father’s love in action.

So although I am convinced that the immediate object of this part of the parable was directed to the Jewish Community and especially its leaders Christ in His wisdom was challenging us, His followers to be open at all times to the works of God’s Love even if, in our own judgement, God’s actions are unjust and unfair to us, His faithful followers.
Really good post! And I agree with you - Almost?
What about the son who had been obedient to his father all these years? Do you think suddenly that he would now disobey? Being a good, law abiding Jew, he would break the 4th commandment - Honor your Father and Mother.

I would like to think that, maybe, he went ahead and swallowed his pride and obeyed his father like a good Jewish son would do.
 
How about - if the brother who consider himself ‘right’, did come in, then got into argument with the Father and the other brother and walked out …

Tha Father in His Mercy, decide to let him still be in The banquet , outside the house …and there the brother continue to
bring up things that The Father have forgiven, and instead of dwelling on the Mercy of The Father, the children and all the passerbys are told, repeatedly , of all the bad in the member of the family, that they do not want to join the Banquet …

The 'right ’ son is eager to get total respect from his children,and disdain anything that now he consider to be of the house of the father … even if that mean the children are deprived of much … the children having been taught about their household being the only right one , they are not able to see or appreciate the newly revealed ( yet everpresent ) treasures of The household … and join in the joy that many other sisters found - in the wisdom , freedom and dignity of that Mother…- even if some of the servants were not all that nice always … the children , mostly could resist the temptation to hate and walk out on the Mother …and even in all humility and eagerness, could also accept what is good and holy from that Mother ! Most of these children did not partcularly like Mother being called in reference to only one of her children , for that was not all of her identity !

And horror - some of the passerbys , also decided to either imitate or react to the ways of the ‘right’ brother …they learned how to make rules for themselves and grab power ; they did not like some of the pictures the brother had at his house - it was thought they were given undue respect and even the notion that
they could take the place of The Presence!( The ‘right’ brother , having a disdain now for anything that is of the household of the father, could not realise the seriouseness of this!) And The Lord’s words -’ they strain out the gnat and swallow the camel’seem to become real …

So the waiting goes on … for the world to believe …that , may be when The HolyFire descends as a sign of The Lord’s fidelity to the descendants of those who at one time made heroic efforts to protect the holyplaces , it would be bright as the sun and not with any bluish tinge of grief - for the keys to that same Holyplace having been in the hands of some who are not able to beleive in the Miracle of The Resurretion !

And may be , when the real miracle of giving glory to The Father, take place , the dome of the rock Mosque would hold the Banquet - for all of the children …and there would be Peace !
 
DianJo,
Your question has made me rethink my position. Now that I think about it my answer is I don’t know, just as I don’t know if those of the Jewish Faith will ever accept Christ Jesus as God Incarnate and His Paschal Scarifice.

Maybe I should have taken the position of Paul and the Church Fathers and while not understanding fully why they haven’t they never gave up hope that they will as they prayed for this event to happen.

But, again it seeems the real message is that God’s love is eternal and He will never stop loving us even when He know what we are doing is no what he desire and intends for us.

Thanks for helping me think things out a little more than I had.
 
Church Militant:
I think that this is an inference that is not really there.

The older son does not turn away from God. He simply complains.
One thing that I failed to mention is that Father also said that how we finish this parable offers us an insight into our own view of compassion and forgiveness. :ehh:
Hello Church Militant,

Jesus uses the parable of the prodigal son to address the Jewish Pharisees, who like the Israelites in Ezekiel’s day, were angered at God’s forgiveness, mercy and rejoicing at the sight of repentant sinners. We, the Pharisees, Israelites and modern Christians, can all learn about God’s forgiveness from Jesus and the Father’s answers in Luke 15 and Ezeikiel 18 which both address the same issue.
NAB LUK 15:1 (This is the incident that lead to Christ’s Prodigal Son parable)

The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.

NAB LUK 7:39

When his host, the Pharisee, saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is that touches him–that she is a sinner."NAB MAT 9:11

The Pharisees saw this and complained to his disciples, “What reason can the Teacher have for eating with tax collectors and those who disregard the law?” Overhearing the remark, he said: “People who are in good health do not need a doctor; sick people do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘It is mercy I desire not sacrifice.’ I have come to call, not the self-righteous, but sinners.”

NAB EZE 33:17

Yet your countrymen say, “The way of the LORD is not fair!”; but it is their way that is not fair. When a virtuous man turns away from what is right and does wrong, he shall die for it. But when a wicked man turns away from wickedness and does what is right and just, because of this he shall live. And still you say, “The way of the LORD is not fair!”? I will judge every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.NAB JOH 7:48

“You do not see any of the Sanhedrin believing in him, do you? Or the Pharisees? Only this lot, that knows nothing about the law–and they are lost anyway!”
 
I chose the brother not coming in. I always thought that Christ was showing what was going to happen when the Gentiles were welcomed into the Church (the prodigals) and the Jews choosing not to welcome them home and come into the Kingdom with them.

I also heard in the homile last Sunday about the cleansing of the Temple of the moneychangers, and how Christ was actually angry because the Jews chose the only place in the Temple that the Gentiles were aloud to worship in, to set up their vendors and money tables, thereby robbing the Gentiles of their rightful place to worship the One True God, robbing them of their place in God’s Kingdom. That’s why he called them thieves and the Temple a den of thieves.

Kind of the same theme.
 
Well, while the parable possibly meant very much for the pharisees at the time, in our times, since the Jewish people are not most likely reading The Scriptures (N.T), is it not likely that The Holy Spirit having foreseen things of our times and like many O.T 'types '- the Pharisees too possibly also represented what was to happen later !

In the household of The Church, when those who claim to know better about traditions etc: and who also eat at the table - having valid sacraments, yet consider the household of Mother Church ‘not right’ , would the Father’s Heart not be grieved…and the unbelievers scandalised …
 
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