Grace Beyond Fairness
As the oldest of all my siblings, I often find myself relating to the older son in the story of the prodigal son. I understand his frustration—he had been faithful and hardworking, yet his younger brother, who had made mistakes, was the one being celebrated upon his return. It seems only fair that the older son would feel upset.
But as I reflect on the father’s words, “You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours,” I start to see another perspective. The father wasn’t dismissing the older son’s feelings; instead, he was reminding him that he had never been without love, security, and belonging. The younger son had to lose everything before he realized what truly mattered, but the older son had always been at the father’s side.
This story challenges me to think about both justice and mercy. The older son had a right to be upset, but he also had an opportunity to embrace his brother’s return and welcome him back into the family. Sometimes, it’s easy to focus on what feels fair, but this story reminds me that grace is not about fairness—it’s about love. Just as the father welcomed back his lost son, we are all called to offer forgiveness, even when it’s hard.
God
Help us to see the ways of your words and guide us in the way that we are supposed to go. Bless us to see that your love is the real thing that is to be celebrated.
Amen
Prairie Andersen