“Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your
orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my
friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property
with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.” Luke
15:22–24
This was the reaction of the faithful son in the Parable of the
Prodigal Son. Recall that after squandering his inheritance, the
Prodigal Son returns home humiliated and poor, asking his father if
he will take him back and treat him as if he were a hired hand. But
the father surprises him and throws a huge party for the son to
celebrate his return. But the father’s other son, the one who
remained with him throughout the years, would not join in the
celebration.
Was it fair that the father killed the fatted calf and threw this
large party to celebrate his wayward son’s return? Was it fair that
that same father apparently never even gave his faithful son a
young goat to feast on with his friends? The right answer is that
this is the wrong question.
It’s easy for us to live in such a way that we always want things
to be “fair.” And when we perceive that another receives more than
us, we can get angry and bitter. But asking whether or not this is
fair is not the right question. When it comes to the mercy of God,
God’s generosity and goodness far exceed what is perceived as fair.
And if we are to share in the abundant mercy of God, we too must
learn to rejoice in His superabundant mercy.
In this story, the act of mercy given to his wayward son was
exactly what that son needed. He needed to know that no matter what
he had done in the past, his father loved him and rejoiced in his
return. Therefore, this son needed an abundance of mercy, partly to
reassure him of his father’s love. He needed this extra consolation
so as to become convinced that he made the right choice in
returning.
The other son, the one who had remained faithful throughout the
years, was not treated unfairly. Rather, his discontent came from
the fact that he himself lacked the same abundant mercy present in
the heart of his father. He failed to love his brother to the same
extent and, therefore, failed to see the need to offer this
consolation to his brother as a way of helping him understand he
was forgiven and welcomed back. Mercy is very demanding and far
exceeds what we may at first perceive as rational and just. But if
we desire to receive mercy in abundance, we must be ready and
willing to offer it to those who need it the most.
Reflect, today, upon how merciful and generous you are willing to
be, especially toward those who do not appear to deserve it. Remind
yourself that the life of grace is not about being fair; it’s about
being generous to a shocking extent. Commit yourself to this depth
of generosity toward all and look for ways that you can console
another’s heart with the mercy of God. If you do, that generous
love will also bless your heart in abundance.
My most generous Lord, You are compassionate beyond what I can
fathom. Your mercy and goodness far exceed what any of us deserve.
Help me to be eternally grateful for Your goodness and help me to
offer that same depth of mercy to those in most need. Jesus, I
trust in You.
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Featured image above: The Parable of the The Prodigal Son:
Received Home by his Father By Luca Giordano
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