Our run into and through this parable from Luke is about to come to an end...about to...
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2)

Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country and there squandered his property in dissolute living. (Luke 15:11-13). When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! (Luke 15:14-17) I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." So he set off and went to his father. (Luke 18-20a) But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe - the best one - and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20b-24) Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your Brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. (Luke 15:25-28) 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 has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him.' (Luke15:29-30)

When someone thinks they deserve something notice how it can be picked up in mere punctuation. I know that translators put in the exclamation point after the older sons first word (Listen!), but it does convey some of the emotion and much of the way this son views not only his father but his brother and the whole nature of how things are to happen in the world. He has been invited to join the celebration that is merely an expression of great love and thanksgiving and he has to smack it down as though the father doesn't get it. Well, maybe it is the oldest son who doesn't get it. He moves right into blame that is filled with anger and hurt and disapproval. What he has missed in all this time with his father is that the fatted calf and other animals like goats and the rest were always there. They were his...they were all apart of the inheritance (and the greater share - as he was the oldest son) that was, in essence his. He could have had a party at anytime. The father never stopped him. The father never put conditions on how the oldest son must carry on in the presence of the father. "You want to throw a party...then party! You are my eldest son...you are my beloved." But this son...never got it. He has been living in a world according to his own boundaries and guides and laws and rules and expectations. He has, you could say, forgotten that he is the son and the house has been open to him all along. As it is, though, we do not always want to live in this home that is ours. We want to make due with rules that actually demean the gift and turn it into something it is not...something we must earn. Not only does this son get on the father for not living according to the rules of the eldest son's world, this son also attacks the younger son for stuff he didn't do. There's nothing in this story that talks about the sexual conduct of the younger son. But...we all know...that is a way to draw more attention and make someone look and sound and smell "bad & dirty." But...But...even if that was the case...to this father, there is a love that nothing...nothing...nothing can cancel or qualify. It is party love - it is celebration.

Connection: A good exercise for all of us would be to try and catch ourselves in the act of putting conditions on our relationships. My bet is...it will not happen just once.

By your love, O God, we are brought home into the presence of the celebration of life that comes when your rule is the creative power in our lives. Sometimes it is too amazing to consider. Then again that is why we call such grace and love - amazing. Praise to you, O Lord. Amen.