If you were to take no more than an encyclopedia explanation of the
             parable of the Prodigal Son, you would think that it concerned no more than
             a nice story about a "young man [who] leaves home and becomes a wastrel;
             repentant, he returns to be received with joyful welcome." [1]
             But it is more than that. To begin with, as a parable of Jesus, it
             is a priori about the hope of heaven. In addition, it is a reflection of
             the social order of the times, because, as Hodges pointed out almost a
             hundred years ago, "these records of the dealings of Jesus with Samaritans
             and publicans and poor folk and sinners marks this as the social gospel."
             That being the case, it makes some sense to investigate the
             relationships between the father and the prodigal son and between the
             father and the dutiful son in terms of modern life, as well, especially in
             terms of dutiful children and profligate ones.
             The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his
             father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his
             father, Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and
             never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young
             goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son
             of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes
             home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
             31'My son,' the father said, you are always with me, and
             everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be
             glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
             he was lost and is found.' [3]
             Modern commentators note that most of us can identify with the
             younger son, the child who strikes out on his own, making costly mistakes
             into the bargain. There is also the responsible elder son, and most of us
             can identify, either personally or...