Thanks Joe. I love this parable and it was likely one of Jesus's favorites because it shows us what His Father is like. Have you ever read Middle Eastern scholar Ken Bailey on this? He really opened this and other parables up for me. The older brother, who is representative of the Pharisees (see Luke 15:1 for context), should have not only joined the party, but likely had a cultural expectation of going after the younger brother in defense of the father's honor. Instead of judging the fact that his brother, "a sinner", has been welcomed home, he should have been pursuing him on behalf of the Father. This is where the Pharisees fell short and where we also fall short as a Church when we fail to welcome those the Father welcomes. Thanks for highlighting the scandalous good news of Jesus!