Which Son?

In the parable of the Lost Son (not the Prodigal Son) which son loved the father?  The younger son who, in effect, said, ‘Dad, I can’t wait for you to die; give me my money now,” or the older son who stayed at home as his father’ “slave” fearful to ever step out of line and break his father’s “commands”?  Which son loved the father?  Neither…

Which son understood his father?  The younger son who thought he’d have to beg and plead for his father’s forgiveness and for a position as a hired hand or the older son who believed that his father to be miserly and would never even give him one measly goat?  Which son understood his father?  Neither…

Which son did the father love?  The recklessly wasteful son who blew his inheritance or the embittered angry son?  Which son did the father love?  Both…

Which son am I?  Which son (or daughter) are you?

It might be wrong to call this the parable of the “Prodigal son,” but it wouldn't at all be inappropriate to refer to it as the parable of the “Prodigal Father.”  He spends his love recklessly, extravagantly – even wastefully on those boys.