There was another person affected by the return of the younger brother and his unconditional acceptance by his father. It was the older brother. By now, the older brother had accepted that his younger brother had left and was not coming back. He fell into whatever role he played in caring for his father and his property. Things had stabilized. He was doing his duty as the faithful son.
But when the younger brother returns and is welcomed back by his father, this upsets everything. The family dynamics once again change. Unconditional love and forgiveness seems to have trumped the loyalty and duty of the older brother. This new understanding and change in thinking is unfair in the elder brother's eyes. So he refuses to go into the party.
Jesus entered the world to bring a new understanding of forgiveness, love, and acceptance. Instead of keeping out sinners and excluding those forced to live on the margins of society, Jesus welcomes them and eats with them. This upset the rigid system of laws and status set in place by the scribes and Pharisees, and, like the elder brother, they didn't like it. So, they had Jesus arrested, manipulated the crowds, had a bogus trial, and put an end to the life of this disruptive one by a cruel death on the cross.
Today we remember our Lord's death. The powerful carried out their solution to the trouble he was causing. They crucified him on the cross. This was the ending they sought. Perhaps it is most fitting to conclude today's devotion with a moment of silence for Jesus, the one who sought to bring a new understanding of love, an understanding that cost him his life.
Unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace are simple concepts that are so difficult to genuinely embrace. We need a constant reminder of Christ's example
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