The Gospel According to the Bitter Brother
Luke 15:1:3, 11–32 – A Family Drama, Not a Fairy Tale
This is my Lectio reflection on today’s Gospel in Luke 15 on the Prodigal Son.
Here’s what they don’t tell you in the Hallmark version: the Father gave both sons their share of the inheritance upfront. The younger one takes his money and blows it on bottle service and bad decisions, and somehow he’s the problem child. But the older son? He’s the real piece of work. I can see the older brother standing in the shadows, arms crossed like a righteous hall monitor, waiting for a gold medal in moral superiority.
When his brother drags himself home in shame, the Father (the God figure in this metaphor) runs to meet him. Throws him a party. Celebrates resurrection, not résumé. And the older brother? He loses his mind. He’s not sad. He’s offended that grace exists. He guilt-trips his dad like a pro, gaslighting him for being merciful — “I’ve slaved for you!” he says, conveniently forgetting that he already got his cut.
This is what envy in a pious outfit looks like.
We are that older brother every time we think someone else is “getting away with it.” When grace for others feels like injustice to us, we’ve officially missed the point. What we usually want is revenge disguised as virtue. We’re not mad that God is unfair. No, we’re mad that He won’t be unfair in our favor. Yes, let’s be real, we want God to be petty like the older brother.
The Father won’t play ball or take the bait from the older brother. He doesn’t smack him, though I kind of wish He would. Instead, He says: All I have is yours, but your brother was dead and now he lives. Translation: This isn’t about who earned what. It’s about who came home.
So maybe stop clutching your attendance badge and remember: none of us earned the party. We’re just lucky the Host is love. Yes, God’s mercy is for the wasteful and the whiny. Thanks be to God.
© 2025, Lawain McNeil, Mission Surrender, LLC.