Charles Jordan

In th epainting, look at the father’s hands. The father’s left hand is masculine and grasps the son tight, whereas the right hand is feminine and rests gently on the younger son to comfort him as only a mother can.

What is the basis of the older son’s relationship with the Father? Is there any hope for the elder son?

Is repentance and reconciliation within the contemplation of the younger son? Does he anticipate any change in his relationship with the father? At this point in the story, has the younger son learned anything from his experience?  Do you agree with Fr. Nouwen that Jesus himself can be seen as the younger son?

In making his decision to return home, has anything really changed about the younger son? Is the younger son’s request simply driven by selfish desire or is he beginning to realize the true nature of his relationship with the father?

In reviewing the parable, we will look at (i) the historical context, (ii) re-tell the parable in a contemporay idiom, (iii) plumb the spiritual meaning, and (iv) place ourselves in the story.

The younger son is not merely wishing his father dead so that he can take ownership of his stuff, but to be cut off from what it means to be called a son in exchange for mere cash. 

The major themes are (i) how each of us are each of the sons, (ii) how both sons are perfected, adn (iii) how we are ultimately called to be the Father.