Suck it up buttercup

This post comes from my reflection experience on Luke's gospel 15:11-32.

I looked at these verses from the perspective of the likely traits of that day's society and from several angles as well and found differing emotions as I imagined myself as the different member participants in the parable.

As the Prodigal I felt the shame and sorrow associated with the insanity of the actions taken by this young man. I can imagine the torment and fear of returning to my father after my folly.

I spent some time as the elder brother and found a great anger and resentment welling up.

As the servant who was appointed to care for the returning son I felt an odd mixture of feelings that I couldn't really put into words, I think mostly a bewildered set of emotions ( I'm male so I haven't put a lot of time into the discovery of emotions).

I also placed myself in the role of an observer, which yielded still another set of emotions, a curious sort of pity for the son and an almost indignant feeling toward the father for disrupting the status-quo of the day. This is a Jewish family after all and by rights the son would normally be disowned. So for this father to welcome this renegade son is not a kosher deed in the eyes of that society.

As the father I related to the anguish and concern that a parent goes through when a child goes astray from what I would rather have the child follow. I could also feel a great happiness at his return and that mixed with a growing sense of urgency to have this young man looked after and nursed back to health. Another emotion I felt that I'm not sure of, but it may be pity or something related to the sense of urgency.

As a spiritual exercise, it was a very enriching experience to go through.