Sulking in the Barn

In the midst of the feast celebrating the return of his youngest son, the father realized his other son, the oldest, was not at the table.  It was surely a moment when his joy was dampened and as we read the parable, we see the father leaving the festivities to find this son whom he also loved. (Luke 15:28)  He found him sulking just inside of the sound of the music and loud voices.  He pleaded with this oldest son who had planted himself outside the gate and in a distant country as surely as had the younger one who had physically made such a journey. The father pleaded, but the parable does not reveal to us if the sulking son joined the party or stayed outside to nurse a storehouse of resentment toward his brother.    

One of things Jesus points out as a most important issue is the issue of broken relationships.  What He never did was to encourage disciples to nurture victim mentalities.  The nature of the offense which caused the brokenness, or the one who was at fault was not something more important than restoring what was broken no matter what the cost.  "So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)    

It is not an easy word for us.  Many have been the times when ego has made the journey to reconciliation take a much longer time than it should.  One memory which is personally remembered is taking so long reconciliation was no longer possible.  The one thing we all know are the relationships in our life which need mending.  Our choice is sulking in the barn, or joining the party.