Today's Devotion
Monday of Easter 6, May 11, 2026 - Luke 15:11-32
In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is complex. There are multiple characters, several points of conflict, and a surprising twist in the plot that leads to an ending that is part happy and part tragic. This parable can be understood in different ways just by focusing on one character or one part – much like holding a diamond up to the sun and watching the light play by bouncing from one facet to the other.
The most obvious theme is repentance: “lost and found.” But we also see resurrection: “my son was dead, and is alive again.” We see the greed of our sinful flesh eager for that which is material and cannot truly satisfy: “give me the share of the property that is coming to me.” We see a father who indulges his son instead of disciplining him: “he [the father] divided his property between them.”
We see the effects of sin upon our fallen world: “a severe famine.” We see the scarcity that resulted from the curse of Eden (Gen 3:17-18): “he began to be in need.” We see how that curse led man to backbreaking labor to stay alive (Gen 3:19): “he went and hired himself out… to feed pigs.” We see the poverty that Jesus said would always be in our fallen world (Matt 26:11): “no one gave him anything.”
We see the Father’s providence (Matt 6:31-33): “my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread.” We see confession along with repentance (Ps 51:4): “I have sinned against heaven and before you.” We see the Father’s “compassion,” not only in His disposition toward us, but in His actions as well: “[the father] embraced him and kissed him.” We see the Father’s grace and mercy to those who repent: “Bring quickly the best robe” etc. (Ps 147:3)
But we also see the resentment of the legalists, the “elder brothers” of the Old Covenant who begrudge the Father’s generosity (Matt 20:15): “[the older son] refused to go in.” We see the Father also “entreating” the elder son, and reminding this older son: “All that is mine is yours.” The story ends with the elder son remaining outside of the celebration. The Father gets the last word by repeating the earlier theme of this parable (which is both repentance and resurrection): “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
Stepping outside of the story into the real-world setting of its telling, we learn what happened. The older brother rejected the father’s entreaty, and continued to resent both his prodigal brother and his gracious father. For at the conclusion of this and other parables, “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed [Jesus]” (Luke 16:14). The story truly ends on a tragic note.
Amen.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.