Sumagot ang ama, “Anak, lagi kitang kapiling at ang lahat ng aking ari-arian ay sa iyo. Nararapat lang na tayo’y magsaya at magdiwang, sapagkat patay na ang kapatid mo, ngunit nabuhay; nawala, ngunit muling natagpuan.”

Lucas 15:31–32

Sa kuwento ng prodigal son, mas bida ang anak na nag-demand sa kanyang ama na ibigay na ang kanyang mana, na kanyang winaldas lamang sa bisyo. Madaling maka-relate sa kuwentong ito, lalo na kung mayroon kang demanding na anak (or kung ikaw ang may pagka-prodigal son). But this story is about two sons. And while everyone is familiar with the prodigal one, may story din ang kuya.

Makikita sa kanyang reaction na he doesn’t share in his father’s happiness. Nagagalit siya dahil in return for all the misbehavior ng kanyang kapatid, the father showed love and acceptance. Ipinamukha niya sa kanyang ama ang kanyang righteousness, na siya ay naging obedient over the years, pero hindi man lang siya na-appreciate (Lucas 15:29). Dito natin makikita ang problema sa attitude ni kuya. He resents his father’s love for his younger brother, even if this doesn’t diminish the love that’s been given to him. Mababa ang tingin niya sa kanyang kapatid at mataas ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang sarili. He thinks his brother doesn’t deserve to be taken back, perhaps even loved. Sa kanyang tingin, he is more righteous and therefore more deserving sa favor ng kanyang ama. 

Ang character ni kuya ang nagpapakita sa atin na self-righteousness can get in the way of us understanding and accepting what unconditional love is, as well as realizing our need for God. Wala naman sa atin ang matuwid, hindi ba (Romans 3:10)? At sa story na ito, we see that the Father reaches out to us and that His love is always there, whether or not we think we (or others) have earned it in some way.