This story can be found in Luke 15:11-32.
We all know the story of the prodigal son, the son who asked his father for his share of the inheritance so that he could go off and see the world. We know what happened when the son ran out of money and decided to return home and ask his father for forgiveness. We know how, when the father saw his son returning, he ran down the road to greet him back. Then he dressed his son in royal clothing and threw a party.
We know that this part of the story is a reminder for us parents to be forgiving of them even if they go against our wishes. We also should be like the forgiving father in that we need to let our children make their own mistakes, just as we did, despite how difficult it is to let them go. Our love for our children should be unconditional.
We know what happened with the prodigal son and the forgiving father. But what about the jealous brother? Did he accept his father's invitation and go into the party or did he hold a grudge against his brother? And what happened after the party? Did the prodigal son stay on the straight-and-narrow? Did they all live happily-ever-after?
How would you respond if your child was the prodigal son or daughter? Would you be as tolerant and forgiving as the father in this parable?
How do you think your kids would respond if they were the brother or sister who stayed while their sibling went off to see the world only to return after losing everything?
While we hear this story in the cycle of Mass readings of the Liturgical Year, often we don't take the time to really ponder it and apply it to our lives. This story is rich with conversational pieces for parents and children, especially teens. Take some time to ask the question of yourself, your spouse, and your kids: What would you do? How would you react?
The Bible contains all kinds of conversational items for families. I am hoping to offer a Bible story each week for at least the next year as a conversational piece for families. I hope you enjoy the stories and the conversations you may have with your family members as you explore these stories more.
