Are all three lost?
“Yet even in the loneliness of the canyon I knew there were others like me who had brothers they did not understand but wanted to help. We are probably those referred to as "our brother's keepers," possessed of one of the oldest and possible one of the most futile and certainly one of the most haunting instincts. It will not let us go.” ― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It This great book and film is at its heart an angle into a younger brother and an older brother and their Presbyterian minister father. -the Presbyterian Church strikes me as a church of the elder brother.
This morning let’s call this the parable of the elder brother. Yeah yeah, the spoiled brat get to come home celebrated and forgiven. Dad gets played yet again. We could call Dad an enabler of his younger son’s malfeasance.The elder brother plays by the rules.He is never recognized as trying his best.When he goes to church all he hears is that he is not doing enough.All I hear is how we need to have more Roman music in church and dancing like the old Baals. That and give give give:time, money, ideas, money, talents, money.Worse he is told to count his blessings. What blessings? He works hard and no one seems to appreciate it, even Dad.How’s your brother, everyone asks-they all seem to like him. they are not there to bail him out of his latest jam, like when he wants me to buy his kid a present that he couldn't afford for his birthday, or the many times he decided that he just had to act out on the birthday of our parents.
Barnes-In the parable, the elder brother seems anxious about the fuss made over the return of his brother. The subtext of that worry is that he doesn't feel appreciated. Yet his carefulness and propriety make him uncomfortable ..We don't like prudence-we like risk-takers.
thank you, including those elder brothers who back up a bit when I say, "You are so cherished." Happy are those whose transgressions are forgiven. What about those whose sins are comparatively minor or dull? It is not an easy task to do good out of duty or fear of retribution.When you have been hurt far more than you have hurt others; it gets old praying for forgiveness week after week. It gets old hearing testimonies of rotten people finding God when it seems that living a godly life leaves you feeling left out of the party. elder brothers do the right thing, and the pressure is intense. They do not get the respect and love that they were told they deserve when they do the right thing-women like bad boys. Churches fall all over someone who has turned the life around in the story book conversion story but neglect the ones who progress step by step through a dutiful life.
The reading from 2 Cor 5:16 is a vital one, but is this a story of reconciliation. Perhaps the elder brother grows into it. 50 years ago the Presbyterian Church issued this great affirmation of faith in our country and it was met not with reconciliation, not with acceptance, but vitriol.Forgiveness provides the opening for reconciliation, but at times, it can only provide some safe space and maybe if desired by both parties, reciliation can arrive. divorced parents can operate smoothly and well at e wedding of a child.
God loves the father in the story. God loves the younger one we term the prodigal. Yes, god loves older brothers too.
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