An old, old story can still have surprises

In a worship service I attended recently, I heard the parable of the prodigal son, which is one of my favorite parables. Among Jesus’ par-ables, it is one of the longest and richest in details, providing concrete imagery as well as many theological and spiritual facets to consider.
I enjoyed hearing this old, old story read to me again.
For years I have invited others into this story in sermons or in Bible studies by asking them to consider to which character in the story they could best relate or how each character represents an aspect of their personalities. In accepting that invitation into the story for myself, I have always related best to the elder brother.
I am the oldest of three sisters. I was obedient and not rebellious growing up. I did my duty by making good grades, doing my household chores and trying not to cause trouble for my parents.
I fully understand the elder brother’s anger at the younger brother who seems to get away with not only doing as he pleased but then getting rewarded with his father’s love after doing so.
I’ve been a parent for 26 years, so I can also relate to the loving father’s willingness to offer this child both freedom and responsibility in spite of his concern for his child. I fully comprehend why this father poured out his love on
this wayward child when he returned.
The truth is that I have never related to the prodigal. I was an obedient child and teen; then as a young adult, I became a pastor. Riotous living isn’t in the job description for a pastor, though being obedient and dutiful is.
I’ve never really related to the prodigal until the moment I heard that old, old story read to me on the first Sunday of Lent. Something broke through my spiritual arrogance, and I clearly perceived myself living in a far country separated by a long distance from my loving spiritual parent.
My first insight was that, of course, I have taken the story too literally all these years. My riotous living doesn’t take the form the prodigal’s does. My riotous living takes the form of gluttony, consumer consumption, and idolatry of work, family and self. That’s the far country into which I go, which puts great distance between God and me and even between others and me.
I live constantly in this far country of sinful, riotous living and am particularly confronted about that in this season of self-examination. I am the one standing in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. I am the one standing in the need of the unbounded love God offers to all sinners.
Of course, I also need to get over my cheap elder-brother-self and offer that love, forgiveness and reconciliation to others.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.