Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

This week, I picked up where we left off with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, fusing it with another of Jesus’ parables to explore what might have happened next. What if the older brother never repented, but instead followed the same path of greed and rejection as the tenants in the vineyard? What if the younger brother returned—resurrected—and forgave him anyway? This story points us straight to Jesus: rejected, crucified, risen, and offering forgiveness instead of revenge. And just like the older brother, we have a choice—resist and be crushed, or repent, be broken, and receive His grace. It’s a stunning picture of love that changes everything. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the cornerstone, and walk in the joy and freedom He’s given us.