I have written extensively on the Parable of The Man Who Had Two Lost Sons, also known as The Prodigal Son, yet every time this passage comes up in our lectionary, I find myself thinking about a different aspect of this parable. For my prior blogs on this reading, please go to BLOG 1 and BLOG 2. Today, I want to focus on the relationship between the concept of “Kinsman Redeemer” in Leviticus 25:47-49 and the behaviors of the older brother in this parable.

In Leviticus 25:47-49 we read the following mandate, “If resident aliens among you prosper, and if any of your kin fall into difficulty with one of them and sell themselves to an alien, or to a branch of the alien’s family, after they have sold themselves, they shall have the right of redemption; one of their brothers may redeem them, or their uncle or their uncle’s son may redeem them, or anyone of their family who is of their own flesh may redeem them; or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves.” The right to redeem always fell on the eldest surviving male, starting with the oldest brother, who is the caregiver for elderly parents residing with him.

The responsibility to redeem, (To pay the determined ransom price,) applied also to any property, slaves, widows, and blood. In the case of people, a purchase price would be paid to the person in whose servitude the Jewish citizen lived. In the case of ancestral land, the eldest male in the family had the right to redeem or purchase back any homestead parcels sold by a family member. This was meant as a redemption of familial rights, a restoration of honor, a reversal of a familial misfortune, or an act of kindness when the property was left to a widow who was unable to retain ownership. In the case of widows who had no male children, it was the responsibility of the eldest surviving brother-in-law (or male relative) to marry the widow and to produce a male heir to advance the family name and retain possession of family property. In the case of honor, it was the responsibility of the surviving brother to avenge the death of a brother who was killed by another. In this case, the Kinsman Redeemer became the Avenger of Blood, restoring the honor of the deceased by taking the life of the aggressor.

In the Parable of the Man who Had Two Lost Sons (The Gospel Reading for this coming Sunday) we see a younger brother who “hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country.” This Jewish citizen has given himself in servitude to a Gentile in foreign territory. It would have been the responsibility of the older brother to become the Kinsman Redeemer. It would have been expected that this brother would go searching for his younger brother, pay whatever debts he owed to the Gentile, and restore him back to his homeland. The older brother also retains the right to redeem his brother’s sold land when those parcels came back for sale. In this case, the older brother fails in this basic responsibility: He doesn’t look for the lost brother, he does not pay his debts, and he does not restore him back to his village.

As I have said elsewhere, the Kinsman Redeemer responsibilities of Leviticus 25 also include the mediation between a wayward child and his father. It would have been the older brother’s responsibility to facilitate the reconciliation between his brother and his father, but he also fails in this responsibility. Somehow, the younger brother was able to redeem himself from his master (perhaps he ran away;) he returns home, hoping for an opportunity to pay back what he squandered; and he was willing to become a day laborer in his father’s land. It is the father who takes the initiative to redeem his younger son, to forgive him, and to mediate between him and the community through his behaviors (gave him the signet ring, gave him a purple robe [a sign of authority,] and welcomed him with a banquet.)

Now, we all feel great empathy for the older brother because many of us, devout Christians, see ourselves in him. He stayed to work the land, he cared for his father, he was dutiful in his responsibilities, and he is the good and faithful servant. It doesn’t seem fair to us that the squandering, irresponsible brother is welcomed with such fanfare and extravagance. We too want to pout and question the father’s insight and judgement. But let us not forget that the older brother owns everything: two thirds of all lands, all remaining animals, all slaves, the right of redemption of his brother’s sold lands, all the respect and privilege of the family name, a privileged position in the village, etc. In fact, the father says to him, “all that is mine is yours.” This is not metaphorical language. This is Levitical law. He truly owns everything, yet he can’t spare an ounce of compassion towards a brother who has fallen into hard times. He fails to be the Kinsman Redeemer and he remains lost in his bitterness and anger, even though his father’s compassion for his brother doesn’t reduce the father’s love for him. He remains the chosen inheritor, although he has become a miser to his own kin and freely disobeys God’s law. The irony is that he believes that he is more righteous than his brother, but the opposite may just be the case.

Now, on to us, Older Brothers. We who are faithful, and have come face to face with God’s abundant grace in his Son, have a huge responsibility. We must love without judgement all those we see as falling short of the mark we (God, society, Church…) have set for them. We must be instruments in our Redeemer’s hands, and we must do what the older brother in our Parable failed to do. We must be instruments of reconciliation in a broken world. Our duty is to search for lost people and to facilitate a family reunion with their loving Father.

May you accept this responsibility with great joy and love.

Blessings,

Fr. Roman+