Interpretations Vary

This last time I was in my New Testament class, we spoke of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. To be honest, I had never read or heard of this parable. In the moments when my professor told us that the father of the two sons ran to his youngest son who had fallen, but come back to his father, I was just astounded. And the big thing is that Jesus Christ did the same for us. Like the father, Christ ran to the earth from His throne, He ran to the cross. I never really thought of it in that way. For awhile, before I knew much about the Church and knew nothing of Jesus Christ, I thought He was sent here, just like we were. But, no, He was far from sent here. He chose to come here. That makes me so proud, so appreciative, and makes me feel so loved. I don't know how I could ever not love and thank Jesus Christ again. 

Yet, in this story some people have interpreted the father accepting his son though he had sinned as unfair. Some people, like the eldest son, think that because they have been righteous their whole lives and others have not been until one day when they reform, that those who have been righteous their whole lives are more worthy and those who have not been righteous their whole lives are not worthy. They do not understand why everyone receives the same blessings and same opportunities. People like this make no sense to me. Shouldn't those who have been righteous their whole lives be happy for those who have finally found the way? You'd think they would be. 

For me, this hits hard and close to home. Because I have not always been a member and not always living right I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to receive the blessings Heavenly Father has promised if I do right. Knowing that my family is not living certain standards right now is hard, but I know that they will have the opportunity to do so later in life and can receive the same blessings that I will.