The Faithful Ones

Hence, though he knew what he deserved, he could see a scenario where, if he came in with no expectation of restoration to sonship, and if he pleaded for mercy and reception as a mere servant, there was a small chance he would be received back into the home and at least be spared from hunger. Getting to this realization for the prodigal, unfortunately, required reaching the point of absolute dejection, though it did not have to be the case. He knew these things, somewhere deep inside his heart, but it took the need for mercy for him to remember he had a father that was merciful. He was finally willing to face the music he played. He didn’t know what he would encounter with his father, but he prayed his father would take pity on him as he had seen him do in times past. So, he rehearsed his speech for forgiveness, started on the path of mercy, and hoped for the best. Even in his most improbable imagination, the prodigal could not picture the reception he experienced with his father. He thought he knew what was coming for him, what he was dutifully entitled to. People who wrong others usually do. He had lost the rights of a legitimate son and did not expect to receive the welcome of even a visiting enemy. His father was permitted to any anger he may have felt, and expecting forgiveness or anymore more than mercy was beyond reasonable. But to be received by a warmth that meant embrace and not anger; to be looked upon with eyes filled with tears and not hatred; and to hear a melody that means “I never stopped loving you, welcome home son!” instead of hearing words of rejection and banishment…there were no words to describe the young man’s bewilderment. The Faithful Brother’s expectations Faithful Brother, on the other hand, saw right through the foolishness of his younger brother’s thoughts, words, and deeds. He knew the young man was in search of something that did not exist. Both sons had enjoyed the love of their father, he thought, so he couldn’t understand what else his brother needed. The longing he felt was a lie, void of the truth that all he ever needed was already at home. But since his younger brother made the decision to leave it all behind, he would have to deal with the consequences all by himself. Faithful Brother did what he could to encourage his brother to stay, but this brother of his was stubborn and would not be persuaded. So, leave he did. But a wrong had been committed, and there was no clear way to see how it was going to be righted or how judgement was to be served. He was upset on his father’s behalf, knowing his father was not deserving of his younger brother’s ill-treatment. For Faithful Brother, his brother’s rejection of their father’s love meant his brother earned a judgement of reciprocal and permanent rejection by their father. His younger brother was no longer entitled to their father’s love and the privileges that come with sonship. His offense also meant he was not even deserving of redemption. It was the bed he chose to lie in and lie in it he must. The father’s love was therefore something The Faithful Brother alone deserved. He had chosen the right path, hadn’t he? The father’s love and favor were his reward for faithfulness and obedience. He had earned it and would continue to earn it, as well as the other blessings that come with it. But it wasn’t just the misdeed committed against their father that had him bothered. It was his father’s tendency towards forgiveness and mercy. There was something about his father’s mercy that didn’t sit well with him. There was something unfair about the whole thing. Something that seemed to threaten his stance with the father. He chose to stay, which meant he was obedient, which also meant he deserved a higher and better positioning with the father. But he knew the power of mercy and grace and what it meant for his brother. What he didn’t know was what it meant for him. These thoughts were not the right ones to have, he knew. His father wouldn’t approve of him wishing a cruel punishment on his brother. His father would have wanted him to forgive his brother and desire his safe return. But he couldn’t help the disappointment and anger he felt towards his brother. He was usually good about such things as forgiveness and grace, but this particular misdeed seemed to have crossed over the threshold of acceptable offenses. He couldn’t voice these unfaltering thoughts to anyone, especially his father. Therefore, he did his best to go about his business with the love he had for his father. Because he did love his father and he wanted to see his father happy. There were days he questioned this anger he had towards his brother. Maybe their father wasn’t as angry as he was, and his anger was excessive and unwarranted. There were even days he entertained the thoughts of his brother’s return. It would be nice to have his brother back. Maybe the absence from their father’s presence was punishment enough, he thought. He had no idea what new life his brother had gone in search of creating. Was he happy or depressed, suffering or successful, in good health or diseased? Did he have regrets? Did the thought of home ever cross his mind? For all he knew, his brother may have been fully content with his new life, happy or not, and therefore had no desire to come home. Then all this fuss about judgement and mercy would be mute. There was probably nothing to get worked up over. He just needed to worry about himself and ensure his stance with the father was not threatened. If he went about his business, and worked hard at his faithfulness and obedience, he shouldn’t have anything to worry about. This would be his life now and he was content with it. There was no further need to entertain thoughts that would contradict the life he was fully ready to grasp and never let go of. Well, life is full of surprises, and Faithful Brother was in for a rude one.