Welcome (?), brother
Luke Chapter 15 – 17:19
One of the best exercises I ever learned for going deeper into a scripture story is this: re-read and consider the story as many times as needed to picture yourself in the position of each of the people in it.
I seem to recall it was some time in high school I got introduced to that, and still use it.
For example, take the parable we read today that we usually call the Prodigal Son.
From our common title of it, we tend to assume we’re supposed to identify with the younger son, the one who is ultimately forced to repent and return. That may well be what Jesus intended: it’s a valuable lesson.
But then read the story again and identify with the father. What are you thinking and feeling when your beloved son wants to leave you and reduce your relationship to a financial transaction? What about when you see him approaching to return? Anger? Disappointment? Joy? Compassion?
You can see how simply shifting the focus to a different person can give you a whole new set of lessons.
Let’s go a step further and imagine yourself as the servant who brings news to Dad of Son’s return. You’re an outsider with a front-row seat. How do you see this? Do you sympathize with your master? With the son? It may not be your place to judge them, but you do…what is your judgment?
Maybe you’re one of the friends, looking from the outside in. What does it look like to you?
But today I’d like to particularly ask you to look at the story from the perspective of the older brother…the “good” son who stayed home and worked faithfully while the other was out wasting the family’s wealth.
It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to think he resents his brother’s welcome. He complains of never having been able to celebrate with his friends, but a lot goes into that. At times, he’s probably been a bit envious of his brother, off living the kind of life that probably looked a lot more fun from a distance than it was in reality. He’s felt the unfairness of having to be up early every morning to take care of the animals and work alongside the servants.
He’s fearful that his place in the family structure will change now, and that they one who did nothing to earn respect will be given it. He’s afraid things will be different now.
The reason I’d like you to look particularly at the older brother is that he feels many of the same feelings that become a challenge when a church that has not been growing begins to get new growth.
“New people,” welcome as they are, can be viewed with some suspicion and even resentment. They haven’t been around the carry the load. They haven’t proven their faithfulness yet they, like the lost sheep, are being welcomed and celebrated.
The older brother’s feelings are understandable and reasonable. Yet, the way Jesus tells the story it’s clear that they aren’t what Jesus is looking for. The older brother isn’t just a side character in this parable; his is one of the hardest but most important lessons to be learned.