A NEW TAKE ON AN OLD STORY

Now, many tax-collectors, prostitutes, and other “unsavory types” of people congregated around the Savior; in order to listen to His teaching. As a result, the Pharisees, and scribes whispered among themselves, and said,

"This man associates with sinners, and even enjoys dinner with them."

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus shared a parable with them.

"Let me pose a question to you. Wouldn't any man here who owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, leave the ninety-nine grazing in the pasture, and hunt for the one which is lost, ‘til he is able to locate it? And when he finally locates the beast, he will lay it across his shoulders, and will shout for joy. And as soon as he arrives at his house the shepherd will summon his relatives and neighbors, and shout, yet again.

'Come and feast with me for I have found my little lost lamb.'

“In terms of the heavenly dispensation, I assure you that it is much the same way. There is more joy over one sinner whose heart, mind and soul have been cleansed, than over ninety-nine virtuous people who have long since repented.

“Or reflect on the lady who owns ten silver coins. If she happens to lose one, won’t she take a torch, and search the corners and recesses of her home until it turns up? And when she finally runs across it, she will contact her friends and neighbors, and say,

‘Come celebrate with me for the tenth coin has been found.'

“I can assure you, it is much the same in heaven. The angels celebrate even one sinner who has come to a saving knowledge of the Truth."

With this, Jesus continued speaking.

"A man had two sons. One day, the younger son said to his father,

'Father, bequeath my share of the property to me before you die.'

“As a result, his father willingly split his property between his two sons. However, and in very short order, the younger son collected everything he owned, and went off to an foreign land; where he wasted his share of the estate on whores and foolish expenditures.

“And when he had spent everything in his bank account, the land was struck with an awful famine, and he was thoroughly famished. As a result, the boy became a servant of one of the pig farmers in that region; who sent him out into his barnyard to feed the swine. (And, it goes without saying, Jews want nothing to do with pigs).

“Sadly, the boy became so hungry that he was tempted to eat the scraps which he fed the pigs, but no one gave him a morsel. Finally, the young man experienced an insightful moment, and he said to himself,

‘My father's servants never lack for food, and I am starving to death! I will climb out of this hog pen and travel back to my father’s house. And I will say to him,

‘Father, I have failed both you, and more importantly God. I don't merit the relationship we once enjoyed. Please hire me to be your servant.’

“As a result, he climbed out of the pig pen, and walked back to his father’s house. But, while he was just visible on the horizon, his father saw him and he was overwhelmed with emotion. And, with this, he hurried to the boy, and proceeded to hug and kiss him. But, his son said,

'I have embarrassed both my earthly father, (and my Heavenly Father). I don't deserve the relationship with you which I once enjoyed. Please allow me be your servant.’

'Hurry up!' his father shouted to his servants. ‘Retrieve the finest clothes in the house, and clothe my son with them! Put a gold ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. And kill the calf which I have been fattening for just such an occasion. We will have a great feast! For this is my son. I was sure he was dead. But, it is though he has returned from the grave. I was sure he was lost, but he has been found!'

“As a result, the servants began to make preparations for the feast.

“In the meantime, the man’s oldest son was out in the pasture, and as he approached the house he heard music, and he noticed his father and his friends dancing. Of course, he asked one of the servants what was happening, and he replied,

'Your younger brother has come back home, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he is back, healthy and happy.’

“As the result of this revelation, the older brother was incensed, and he would not go into the house. Thus, his father came outside to speak to him. And, as might be expected, the boy exclaimed,

'How many years have I served you faithfully and well, and never contradicted a single command you gave me? And during all that time, you have never given me so much as a little goat; so that I could party with my friends!

‘But when that wayward son of yours shows up, who has wasted all your money on whores, you have killed the fatted calf to celebrate his return!'

However, his father replied,

'My dear son, you have always been here with me, and during this whole time you have been denied nothing. It is imperative that I celebrate today.

‘For this is your only brother. While I was sure he was no longer with us, it is though he has risen from the dead. I was convinced he was lost, but he has been found!'"

(Luke Chapter 15, McDonald Paraphrase of the New Testament)

Pt. 2

Perhaps among all of Jesus’ parables, the one most often referred to, as well as the most preached sermon of all time, is that of The Prodigal Son. Anyone who has filled the pew of a local church, for any length of time, has heard multiple messages on this topic. And, almost without fail, the meaning which is assigned to the parable is very much like that of the parables of the wayward sheep, or the lost coin.

However, as a counselor, I began thinking about the parable of The Prodigal Son, and realized that the story which plays itself out has such a correlation to a whole ‘nother kind of relational dynamic.

But allow me to begin at the beginning. Twelve or fifteen years ago my co-counselor, and I led a recovery group and a family group. Whereas, Sherri was primarily responsible for the former, I was primarily involved with the latter.

We referred to the latter group as “Family & Friends,” and had we used an additional suffix we might have added, “of Addicted Persons.” And anyone privy to this type of support group is well aware that the overriding focus of such an organization is that of Codependent Behavior.

While there are plenty of definitions to go around for this relational pattern, I have described it as,

“Two or more adults who have formed a symbiotic relationship in which one of the adults might be classified as the Giver, and one (or more) of the adults might be referred to as the Receiver. Within the context of this relationship, the Codependent (Giver) provides for the needs and wants of one (or more) people (Dependent) who are perfectly capable of providing for their own needs and wants, but simply don’t and won’t do so. Such a dysfunctional pattern of behavior enhances the self-concept of the Codependent person, though he or she often complains about their role. At the same time this behavior pattern exaggerates the tendency of the Dependent person to exhibit immaturity, and instability, and an inability to fulfill the normal and reasonable expectations of an adult person.”

Pt. 3

To be sure, my personal interpretation of The Prodigal Son is simply that. A personal interpretation; a new ‘take’ on an old story. However, there is little or no doubt that our Lord never meant His parable “to be taken” this way. Obviously, in Jesus’ version of the story, the father figure represents none other than our heavenly Father. But what if we assign the parable a relationship devoid of a supernatural being? If so, I think “all bets are off.”

A man has two sons. One day the younger son approaches him and asks for his inheritance; (perhaps 30-50 years prematurely). As a result, it seems the father “falls all over himself” to meet his demands. Not so much as a word or a whimper. And yet, based on what we will soon discover about the boy, he should have “been thinking twice” about his willingness to do so.

If I have ever seen a Codependent person, I have seen one now!

The father immediately obliges his younger son, as he reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a bulging wallet, and shoves a huge wad of sweaty green bills into his hand. And I dare say, I expect the father has role-modeled this kind of behavior to his sons for quite some time. By now, “Jasper,” the favorite, is quite comfortable with being “taken care of,” though “Judson” has never fit the mold, and is a self-sufficient type.

Having gotten what he has come for, Jasper turns, and as a huge grin appears on his face, he whispers to himself,

“When is that old man going to learn? What a fool he is. Why, he’s like my personal Genie. ‘Your wish is my command!’ I’ve never had it so good!”

And with a smile on his face, and a brief “too de loo,” Jasper waves at his father, mounts his horse, and clip clops down the dusty lane which separates him from parts unknown.

Pt. 4

Jasper has ridden for the good part of a day before he brings his trusty steed to a halt in front of an inn which has an adjoining stable. Summoning the stable boy, he gives him instructions to feed and water his horse, and bed him in a hay-strewn stall.

And with this, the young man steps into the lobby of the inn, inquires about a room, pays the required fee, and retires for the night. However, I neglected to tell you, Jasper is not alone this evening. He has enlisted the company of one of the most provocative, albeit expensive women in the city. And over the next few weeks, Esmeralda’s purse becomes progressively heavier; while Jasper’s wallet becomes progressively lighter. Not only does the wayward son waste his inheritance on a woman of the streets, but he gambles a significant amount of it away, and downs an amazing amount of intoxicating spirits.

And now, having lived in the inn for several weeks, Jasper hears a knock on the door. And stepping to the door, he throws it open, and comes fact to face with the manager of the inn.

“Young man. You haven’t paid your bill for this week. As a matter of fact, you only gave me a partial payment for last week. I want you out of here by 1pm!”

Jasper picks up his few belongings, shoves them in a knapsack, steps out the door, and walks the thirty feet which separates him from the stable.

“Hey there, boy. I need to fetch my horse.”

To which the stable boy responds,

“Mister. You ain’t got no horse. The manager done sold him for enough money to cover what you owe him.”

Pt. 5

Disgusted and disillusioned, Jasper turns and walks down the road which leads out of town. And having walked a couple of hours, he finds himself at a farmhouse. Knocking on the front door, it swings open seconds later, and an old man stands looking him in the eyes.

“Yes? What can I do for you, son?”

To which Jasper replies,

“Sir, I was wondering if you need a field hand?”

To which Zacharias, (for this is his name) responds,

“I don’t have a field. I raise pigs. Do you have any experience?”

And though he is a Jew, and though he is all too aware that a good Jewish boy doesn’t dirty his hands, or pollute his soul with pigs, Jasper realizes that he is not in a position to be choosey. He hasn’t been eating well, and he is suddenly homeless.

“Uh, no sir. I have never raised pigs. But I’m a quick learner. Give me a try and I’ll show you.”

And with this, the pig farmer hires him on the spot.

Well, as Jasper soon discovers, it wasn’t “all that it is cracked up to be.” While he is provided a small room in the barn, his meager pay check will barely cover one meal a day.

In the meantime, Jasper’s father has often wondered how he has been “making out,” and yet, in all the time which has transpired, he has not so much as made inquiries, or sent a servant to check on him.

Pt. 6

Apparently, by now, the highly codependent father has made some significant inroads into overcoming his dysfunctional behavioral patterns. And he has often mused,

“I need to allow my son to ‘make it or break it.’ If I need to step aside and let him fail, so be it.”

(and)

“I have enabled that boy for far too long. And now, I regret giving him his inheritance.”

Meanwhile, Jasper has lost even more weight, and his stomach is giving him fits. He must find something to eat. And wading into the pig pen, he retrieves a few handfuls of grain at the bottom of the trough. And as he shoves the filthy stuff into his mouth, he thinks,

“Have I sunk this far? I’m eating after those filthy, God-forsaken swine!”

And Jasper finds himself gagging that wretched pig food out of his mouth. And now, he speaks out loud.

“I can’t stay here. I will starve to death. I will return to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have shamed you. I have spent all your money on prostitutes and gambling. And I became so hungry, and I ate what the pigs left behind. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as a servant, and allow me to earn my keep.”

Jasper has finally “come to himself.” He has fallen and he has failed, but he has learned a hard and valuable lesson; one which he won’t forget. And, by now, it is readily apparent that he has embraced a mindset very much like that of his older brother.

Pt. 7

And thus, Jasper steps out of that pigsty a changed man, and makes his way home. And as the formerly wayward son appears on the horizon, his father sees him coming. He can hardly contain his emotions.

“My boy! My boy! I would know him anywhere.”

Zacharias had often thought about what he would do, if his son ever returned. On a good day, he would muse,

“Well, of course if he returns broke, and in the condition which I believe he will, I will forgive him. But it will take a very long time before I invest trust in him, and it certainly “won’t be business as usual. He’s going to have to prove himself to me!”

However, this wasn’t one of those days. As a matter of fact, those days are past tense now, and the father’s previous resolution has dried up “like spit in the wind.”

Grabbing up one of Judson’s robes, and pulling the ring off his own finger, he runs towards Jasper, and meeting him fifty feet from the house, he wraps him in his arms, and sobs.

“My son. You were dead. And now you are alive.”

And Zacharias hardly noticed Jasper’s filthy clothing, and the powerful ‘fragrance’ of sweaty pigs.

Now Jasper spoke.

“Father, father, I am not worthy to…”

Zacharias would not hear it.

“Stop! Don’t say another word. You don’t owe me an explanation.”

And with this, Jasper’s father wraps the older brother’s robe around him, and places his own ring on his finger.

Pt. 8

Zacharias has succumbed to his previous dysfunctional mindset. Whereas, Jasper had learned a very difficult lesson, and is determined to adopt a new and better way of living, sadly his father has relapsed.

He cuts his son off in mid-sentence, fails to ask about his shabby clothing, or the stench which he has brought back from parts unknown, and has surrendered his good intentions about investing trust, or the lack thereof. He seems fully prepared to return to “status quo.”

“My dear boy. I am nothing less than ecstatic. We will kill the fatted calf, and throw a party for you.”

An hour later, Judson approaches the house; tired and dirty from his work in his father’s field. And the look on his face, and his clenched hands, and the speed which he navigates the distance speaks volumes.

A servant has told him that his brother has reappeared, the condition in which he has returned, and his father’s plans for that evening. And now, he stomps into the house, and confronts his father.

“Father, I have never ceased to live up to your expectations of me. I have given you the best years of my life. I have always obeyed you, and done my duty as a son. And in all that time, you never wrapped me in a robe, nor took the ring off your finger, and gave it to me. And you certainly never killed a fatted calf, and threw a party for me!”

And while Jasper lingers in another room, and continues to scrub the inground dirt off his arms and legs, the elderly man responds,

“My dear son, your brother has returned. Let bygones be bygones. Whereas he was dead, he is alive!”

And whereas the Prodigal son has adopted a new, and better, and functional mindset, the old man is irrevocably stuck, and he is no better off than he was before his son left the premises.

It seems only one person has learned his lesson.


A new take on an old story.

Admittedly, not the story of the redeeming love of our heavenly Father, but the dysfunctional ‘love’ of an all too human earthly one.

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending

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