Reading
But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”
Luke 15:29-30
Reflection
The reaction of the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son is one of bitterness. His emotions are so raw that he can’t even call the younger son his brother. Instead, he says to his father, “this son of yours.” His reaction is one that many of us can relate to, and his anger puts distance where a loving relationship once was. Yet even in trying to push the younger son away, his words reveal a profound truth: the prodigal is still his father’s son. His sinful choices, his rebellion, and even his broken relationships cannot erase that identity.
This story feels uncomfortably close sometimes. I can remember moments in my own life when my sister wasn’t “my sister” in my mind anymore. When emotions were high, she became simply “my mother’s daughter.” I can laugh about it now, but in those moments, it felt very real. Anger has a way of relabeling people so we don’t have to feel the weight of connection. And it’s not just siblings, of course. When people hurt me, disappoint me, or let me down, my instinct can be to cut ties (at least in my head and heart). There are times when distance and boundaries are wise and necessary. But even then, I’ve realized that giving those relationships over to God helps me remember something important: whatever else they may be, they are still children of God.
The father in this story doesn’t just welcome the younger son back—he reaffirms their brotherhood. He tells the older brother, “this brother of yours was dead and has come to life.” The father refuses to let bitterness redefine their identities.
So here’s our challenge: Will we choose to see people as their failures, or will we choose to see them as children whom God loves? We don’t have to agree with their choices, and reconciliation doesn’t always mean things go back to the way they were. But God asks us to remember this: whoever they are and whatever they’ve done, they belong to him first.
Prayer
God of Grace and Reconciliation, we give you thanks that there is nothing we can do to erase our identity as your children. When we are tempted to push others away out of hurt or resentment, remind us that they belong to you. Give us grace to see beyond failures and frustrations, and the courage to entrust wounded relationships into your hands. Remind us that we will never look into the eyes of someone you do not love. Restore our hearts, so that we may reflect your heart. Amen.
