At the risk of saying something blasphemous...
During this whole financial crisis, which seems to be getting worse by the day, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
I've always been fascinated by the two sons; the younger one, who demands his inheritance and goes off and spends it wildly and the older son who stays and is the "good son." There is always a lot of sympathy for the younger son who realizes his wrong and comes back to his father asking to be made no more than a slave. The father instead gives him a party, joyous that his wayward son is finally back home.
The older son isn't so happy. Here he was, the good one, who stayed and was faithful to his father and his irresponsible brother is getting a party.
I've always identified with that older brother, because I understood his anger. He was the good guy, and he felt like he was not be rewarded for his faithfulness. I've been that situation as well.
But Jesus was trying to get at the whole concept of grace, of loving and caring for someone regardless of what they've done. The father loved both sons, but he was happy that his son that wandered off was now back home. This was no time for laying blame, but for granting forgiveness.
Read on...
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