By Atty. Farah G. Decano

 

ANOTHER interesting discussion ensued again between me and my favorite genius (read: nerd in a good way).  After a five-day hiatus from Viber, she suddenly messaged me and asked me about my thoughts on the parable of the prodigal son.

I have never thought of anything more from this parable but a ho-hum story of the usual biblical forgiveness – that Our Lord is willing to take us back whenever we repent for our sins and return to Him.  I thought that I’d rather apply my lessons in critical thinking elsewhere.

“Do you agree with the older brother who felt aggrieved by the father’s conduct of killing the fattened calf and of throwing a party for the squanderer son?”

“Of course!” the lawyer in me agreed. In fact, I’d argue the case of the wiser son on the basis of fair treatment.  It is the proverbial “squeaky wheel getting the oil” which is not necessarily right.   I’d also say that the father was rewarding bad behaviour and what he did was a shameless precedent to other wrongdoers.

 “And how would you argue against the older brother, if you were for the prodigal son?”

“Envy has no place in this house,” would be my opening statement for the prodigal son.   Then, I’d accuse the older sibling of baseless feeling of entitlement to properties which he has not even earned.  Ownership of the calf gave the father the right to dispose the same in whatever manner he wanted.

“Seems to me that you are seeing the prodigal son and the older brother as clients. How would you react if the prodigal son is your real sibling?”

This made me pause and gave it a thought.  I have contrasting reaction if I placed myself as the sibling of the prodigal son.  I won’t mind the fattened calf being killed. I won’t mind the party being thrown for him.  I would be very happy that my father need not worry anymore about his whereabouts.  I would be very happy that finally our family is complete again.

What was the older brother thinking for complaining about the feast for his younger brother? Why did he feel competitive with the latter that he had to look out for himself?  Why was he so focused on his inadequacy?  Has he not been assured enough of his unique position and privilege in the family?

My ability to be happy for the returning sibling was probably due to the fact that my father and mother made me feel they loved me enough. I am confident that any show momentary greater affection for another sibling does not diminish my identity or my worth.

I am beginning to wonder if the older brother in the parable suffered from the trauma of neglect, abandonment, betrayal or injustice when he was a child to even think of antagonism against his sibling.

I guess this psychological view point of the prodigal son story does not just apply to families. It may also be relevant to work or romantic relationships.  If one’s worth is not recognized enough, then the other person will look towards himself, be selfish, be focused on self-preservation, and later on exhibit envy or jealousy.   Conflict will arise if this is not resolved immediately.

The father in the parable knew what to do when the older sibling expressed his disappointment. The father assured him, “[S]on, you are always with me, and all I have is yours.”

Let’s go biblical this time. Probably the Lord knows that life is not fair and reassuring all the time, hence, He wishes to convey that all will be fair in the end. The parable is not just about mercy after all. It is also about justice.

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