When Fairness isn’t enough
Lent IV (March 30, 2025)
We know well the look of the older brother in the painting. His whole body shouts: “It’s not fair!”
He is not wrong. As the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-35) plays itself out, the story is unfair. Which justifiably angers the older brother.
As humans, we all protest when we don’t think things are fair. In order to make life together work, we need their to be fairness.
Yet… It turns out in life that we encounter situations in which we need more than fairness. Sometimes the wounds and situations call for compassion, an unfair extension of mercy, an intentional bending of the rules to help someone.
A reflection on when life together needs compassion and where to go for the at compassion.
The painting is by Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal.