The Saint 91
read the parable as one is read by it. A young man tires of his life at
home and he goes to his father and asks for his half of the inheri-
tance. His father gives him the money, and the young man goes out
into the world, where, in a life of sin, he wastes all he’s been given.
He’s reduced to misery, tending pigs that eat better food than he
does. The servants in my father’s house live more comfortably than
this, he thinks to himself. Why don’t I simply return and throw my-
self on my father’s mercy?
He resolves to go back to his former home where he expects to
be chastised and at best to live the life of a slave. But his father sees
that his son is coming down the road and runs out and meets him.
“While he was still far off his father saw him and was fi lled with
compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him”
(Luke 15.20). He puts a robe around his shoulders and a ring on
his hand. Kill the fatted calf, he orders. Our son who has been gone
is now returned; the one who is lost has been found.
But the wealthy man has another son who is older, and this son
is displeased. Why did you welcome my brother back with such joy
and ceremony, he wants to know. Why have you never treated me
with this kind of res pect? Never have you given me a goat to slaughter
and enjoy with my friends. His father assures his older son that he
loves and honors him, but he also says that he is jubilant at the re-
turn of his brother and wants to express his joy.
The brother who has stayed home and lived a life of duty and res-
pect claims justice. And he has many sympathizers among readers.
They too have been dutiful; they too have done what’s been asked
of them. And now they get less than the spirited wastrel? They do
not like the prodigal son— for they hope to be saved by what is often
not much more than dull virtue. But Jesus will not have it so. The
father of the prodigal saves people because he is merciful; Jesus
preaches to the people, risking his life in the pro cess, and fi nally
losing it, because he himself is merciful. And, the parable suggests,