The Cautionary Aspects of the Prodigal Son

I teach the parable of "The Prodigal Son" every year in British Literature. I hate that parable. I get the point of it, but I can't help feeling a great deal of empathy for the older brother.  In the preamble to the parable Jesus says:

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)

This suggests that the most valuable act, and therefore the harder act, is to admit being wrong and repenting it. However, I think that many times the harder thing is to do the correct thing day in and day out. The older brother does the right thing every day and ends up feeling unvalued. This is always a point of great debate in my classes, which is fun. The seniors get pretty impassioned about it.

So in terms as being a just a person - I sympathise with the older brother. However, when I think about getting my students to read, I find a different perspective. I have plenty of students who come to me already reading on their own. They know what they like already and I enjoy talking to them about their reading. However, what gets me really excited is when a kid who doesn't enjoy reading has a breakthrough moment and finds a book they love. I teach for those moments. Nothing else quite feeds the soul of what I do, like being able to give a kid that experience.

So that's my one soul out of 99. However, what of the ninety-nine? What they are and what they do should be valued, I believe, on the same level even if it isn't as glamorous. It's a puzzle.

I hate that parable. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't more a cautionary tale about valuing the steady ones, than a story about forgiveness.