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The third part of the parable of the prodigal son is the story of the eldest son (Luke 15:25–37). Here is depicted an arrogant sinner, a sinner seduced by dreams of his own decent, honest life. The attitude of the Heavenly Father towards him completes his sad picture, sad even more so since the sinner himself does not understand its meaning. The Gospel depiction of such a sinner, a secretive sinner, should be studied with special attention, since without this is it easy for us to recognize him? “And his son was an elder in the village: and as one coming approached the house, hearing singing and faces, and calling one of the youth, he asked, what is this?” (Luke 15:25, 26). If the father's eldest son worked in the field, this serves to his honor. But here’s what doesn’t give a good thought about him: why didn’t the good father send for him when receiving his younger brother? Why, then, when all the servants were called to share the joy of their found son, was the eldest son of the house not also invited? It is true that the son did not like to do as his father wanted, but - as he himself wanted - he was left at his will. This thought about him is justified by his subsequent actions. So he, as soon as he returned from the field, as soon as he approached the house, revealed to himself what kind of disposition he was in towards the house. Hearing that they are having fun in the house, instead of going with heartfelt simplicity to the house of his rejoicing father, he stops and asks: what is this? He is amazed that they are having fun without him. As if nothing should happen in my father’s house, apart from his will, apart from his decision! As if his father had no right to have fun without him! And from whom does he learn about what is happening in the house? From your father? No, he calls one of the servants to him. How indecent this is! It’s not decent, especially since next to pride is baseness. “He said to him, “Your brother has come and your father has killed a fat calf, because he has received him in health” (Luke 15:27). The servant speaks about the matter as it is. It is clear that he was a kind and simple-hearted servant. And how many servants of a different category there are! A servant of a good master not only speaks the truth, but speaks with good intentions. “Your brother has come... your father... greeted him with health,” says the servant. These words not only show the truth, but also a good intention to calm the young master’s troubled soul. “But he was angry and did not want to hear it” (Luke 15:28). Why were you angry? Why are you so offended? They told him the gratifying truth, but he became angry. Insensitive son! Insensitive brother! His wild soul is agitated by wild passions - envy, pride! He is tormented by the fact that they are having fun in honor of another; in anger for showing love to another. He considers himself humiliated because attention is paid to another. “And his father went out praying” (Luke 15:28). “What a meek, what a kind father,” exclaims Blessed Jerome; he begs his son to take part in the joys of home.” Yes, it is rare to find such a father among Christian fathers, people blessed with grace, but never among ordinary people. This meek love is heavenly love. She goes out to meet the sinner, trying to attract him to her; she knows his obstinate spirit and, despite this, breathes meekness, affection, compassionate and condescending tenderness towards him. “And he answered, saying to his father: Behold, I have worked for you for so many years, and I have transgressed none of your commandments, and you have given me no more kids of goats, so that I may rejoice with my friends” (Luke 15:29). The obstinate son did not soften with the words of heavenly love, but only became irritated and begins an account with his father, an account with which he thought to accuse his father, while every word of his is evidence to himself. “I’ve been working for you for so many years!” What's special if a son worked in his father's house? Does a good son really only have the right to walk and waste time in idleness? Is the one for whom work is a burden really a decent person? No, more than a servant, the idleness of the children of a good father humiliates him. I have transgressed your commandments. And it’s as if he is a good son who violates the will of a good father. I have transgressed your commandments. But is this true? How could it happen that this respectful son is so deaf even to the pleas of his tender father? How could it happen that a son, respectful to his father, is so cold and cruel to his brother? “If anyone says that I love God but hates his brother, it is a lie” (1 John 4:20). “Speak to yourself in the light of being, but hate your brother, who is still in darkness” (1 John 2:9). This is the teaching of heavenly truth! “And you gave nothing to the kids.” How? Does a good son consider his father? A good son demands payment from his father for loving his father? Is this the son? No, this is a mercenary, not a son. Oh! the son lost his filial love, even while living in his father's house. Is he not worse than his brother, who lost the same love away from his father? “Yes, I would have fun with my friends.” This is another distinction of a good son! He does not find joy in the fact that he lives with his good father, nor does he find joy in fulfilling his father’s commandments, while they are sweeter to a good son than honey and more expensive than precious stones (Psalm 18:11). He is looking for other joys, other friends. What kind of friends are these? Of course, if they were like his good father, they would not replace the father in his soul. The thirst for fun that he languishes in his father’s house shows that he is looking for friends of sin, the fun of debauchery. How is he different from the younger prodigal brother? Is it only because he presents himself as a man of decent life and immaculate behavior? “When this son of yours, who had devoured your property with his lovers, came, you sacrificed for him a bullock” (Luke 15:30). Trying to expose his father's injustice as sharply as possible, the obstinate son points out his attitude towards his brother. “When will this son come.” He doesn’t even call his brother brother; he despises him so much that he considers it an insult to himself to be called his brother. Such is pride! “Your son has come” is an arrow of anger in the heart of the father. You, he says to his father, want to recognize this dissolute one as your son: let him be your son, admire him, but I don’t know such a brother. Then, as he lived, he is your estate with harlots, you accept him in a way that I was never accepted by you, this is your business! What anger in a proud heart! Respect for the father is forgotten, condescending love for the brother is forgotten. Moreover, pride is not only merciless towards the known weaknesses of a brother; she invents weaknesses. Why does this dear brother say about his brother: he squandered his property with harlots? How did he know this? The good servant who met him does not say anything like that to him. Oh! How often does it happen that, being bad themselves, they think bad things about others! Being themselves disposed to do this or that dirty deed, they transfer the same dirt to others. Who does not recognize in this proud brother the Jewish Pharisees and scribes, representatives of arrogant righteousness, often brilliant in outward life, but disgusting in heart disposition! The job of proud people is to dream about themselves that they are not like other people, not robbers, not offenders, not adulterers, but people of strict life (Luke 18:11). They will not forgive their brother for a single offense, they will immediately notice the bitches in his eye, but they do not see even a log in themselves. They look like painted tombs, which seem beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27). “He said to him: child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31). Pharisaic pride condemned itself when it first revealed itself in words. Heavenly love does not judge her, but continues to admonish and shame her in a friendly manner. “Child” – there is so much tenderness in this word. And what kind of father says this word? A father showered with rudeness from his son. How patient is the love of a father! The son never called his father father, but the father says: “Child”! how strong this word is, despite all that is soft! It is as strong as any harsh word! It goes straight to my son's heart! It says to him: my son! do you speak to me like a son? Oh! come to your senses. Child, you are always with me, and my whole essence is yours. You have no reason to complain about my relationship with you. Despite your unfilial disposition towards me, which you yourself have now discovered and which I knew, your father’s love has always been open to you. How can you wish for the little goats? How do you look for other friends besides your father friend? Are any of my benefits more valuable to you than I myself? However, my whole essence is yours. Everything that belongs to me belongs to you, just remain my son; and all this, of course, costs more than your labors could cost. “Be glad and rejoice as befitting, as thy brother, this one was dead and is alive: he was lost and is found again” (Luke 15:32). Advising the obstinate son about his relationship to his brother! If a brother is dear to a brother's heart, then the return of what he lost, of course, should be a matter of joy for the brother. And if a brother does not rejoice over his brother’s health, if the happiness of his dying brother offends and torments his brother: then in such a brother there is no brotherly soul, he has killed his brother’s feelings in himself, he has insulted, humiliated, cruelly offended not his brother, but himself. The good father argued with the obstinacy of his son. A wonderful struggle between love and proud pride! Parents! This is how you should treat skinny kids! Mentors and shepherds! This is the patience with which you need to carry out your work. Firstly, the guilt of those you mentor should not stop you from fulfilling your duty to them. No matter how much bad you see in them, you must teach them good, you must instruct them with the word of the Gospel. “Your job is to sow the seeds.” Sow without wasting time in idleness. What will come of it? Will anything you sow grow? Don't worry: the future is not in your hands; the present is at your disposal. You can only wish that what you sow will grow. Pray to the One who sends beneficial moisture and fruitful warmth. Then look at the father, did the son’s obstinacy cause even one harsh word from his heart? No, the evangelical father shows the more tender meekness to his son, the more rudeness the son expresses. Do as patient love does. Rudeness and cursing in response to rudeness only irritates the rude person. If the tenderness of a father cannot always soften the evil heart of a son, then anger and noise can calm it just as much as oil can calm a flame. Be prudent at least for success in your business. Be meek, if only so as not to humiliate yourself in front of evil children. If they notice your anger, if they notice the immoderation or injustice of your anger: you will remain evil and unjust in their eyes, to their evil amusement, but your instructions will pass without benefit for them and even unnoticed. “The servant of the Lord should not quarrel,” says the apostle about the Christian teacher, “he should be friendly to everyone, teachable, and kind; with meekness he must instruct his opponents, lest God give them conversion to the truth" (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Finally, the image of a proud son is an instructive picture for one and all. How dangerous is proud pride for our salvation! How dangerous it is especially then, how it behaves decently among people so as not to hear self-reproach - it commits grave sins, but secretly from people and therefore sees respect for its outward honesty, for its visible righteousness. How much attention you need to pay to yourself, how strictly you need to watch yourself in order to humble your proud dreaminess about your righteousness! The dreaminess of pride is so subtle, so cunning, so elusive, despite its pleasant charm. How to discover it in yourself? By her actions. If, upon hearing about your neighbor’s successes in the affairs of God, you feel coldness towards him, you see in yourself a readiness to humiliate him, if not in words, then in your thoughts about him; Instead of grateful praise to God for your brother, you feel caustic hostility, secret enmity, anger and envy towards your brother: be sure that you have a lot of terrible Pharisee pride. Fear her and humble her with self-reproach; pray no other way than the prayer of the publican: “God, be merciful, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Lord, Lord! let me see my sins. Amen. You might be interested in: