This past week I have had a deluge of things to do, so these thoughts are more last week than this week. In addition, I didn't want to publish a post entitled "The Elder Son" on the heels of my elder brother's post! As many of you have noticed, I often post after reading something of interest. I recently read Henry Nouwen's "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." Nouwen, having been inspired by Rembrandt's painting of the same name seeks to write a reflection on each of the three characters in Jesus parable. The one that I find has the most impact is the elder son.The elder son has always been labeled as the "good" son because he did not leave home and squander his inheritance. How good can he be if he is full of hostility and resentment? What is the value of service if it is out of duty and not love? Nouwen reflects on the bitterness that the elder son harbors against his younger brother and his father for what both of them have and have not done for him. When one is full of resentment they are unable to move into the joy and celebration that is present in their Father's home. It is far easier to complain about the treatment that our siblings are getting and not focus on the love our Father is lavishing on us. Once animosity and murmuring creeps into the body of the Church, complaining multiplies like a cancer and pushes out the full life that John speaks of in chapter 10 verse 10 of his gospel.
The reality is that we are all the prodigal son and we are all the elder son. Once we return to our Father's house we forget about the sublime welcome party we received and quickly transition into the role of elder son. Our churches have been obliterated by the condition of the elder son. How often we sit in out pews and judge the prodigals who are returning or walking up the driveway instead of running out to embrace them as our Father does? When we lose sight of the blessings and love that are ever present in the Father's house and begin to back bite at our siblings, sibling rivalry rips His house apart. Our Father does not show favorites, nor does he withhold any good gift from his children. We need to stop competing with one another inside of our Father's house and start living the abundant life that he desires for us. The animosity I feel for the party that returning siblings receive only hurts me and the relationship that I have with him.
As I look at our two children I think about how I treat them now, and will treat them in the future. I pray that I will not show favoritism or partiality to either of them no matter where they go or the decisions they make. I must look beyond our temporality and to the eternal paragon father that is our Lord. I am not sure what will or will not resonate with any of you, but I know it struck a real chord with me and the life that I have lived within my family over the past twenty-eight years. May we all abide within the Father's house and embrace one another and the abundant life He desires for us.
1 comment:
Eric,
This is one of my favorite books. I pretty much like anything Nouwen writes, but this particular book is one I have bought and given to friends. Like you, I particularly resonate with his thoughts about the elder son--most likely because my role in the family was to be the 'good kid' who did what the parents approved of. This is a dangerous position to be in for many reasons. It is not the position that makes one most open to the unconditional love & acceptance of our Abba. Nor to being able to extend unconditional love & acceptance to our whole family. One of my life tasks is to shed that role, to let go of judgment and blame in favor of mercy and love--I don't always succeed, but I try to keep to remember that my model is Jesus, not my mother. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
How's GRE studying going??
barbara
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