A Bible parable with a new analysis! (The Prodigal Son)

by Jeane Appell

2024 being an election year —with all the political variants, the claims, counter-claims, ads, campaign funding etc.—may seem like a long year!  Interestingly, the partial definition of “Year”  in the Glossary chapter of Mary Baker Eddy’s “Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures reads, “Year:…space for repentance” (page 598.) This is an appropriate consideration for all of us praying in support of the election process.   When asked about her politics, Mrs. Eddy  replied that she had none except to support a righteous government. (See  Miscellany, pg 276). This has become my response as well.  

Recently, while praying to support our country, an unusual interpretation came to me as I read the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15).  The parable as told by Jesus refers to our sonship with our Father, God. But I’ve adapted it to my consideration of citizenship and government. I’ve changed the characters into concepts.  I’ve substituted for the Father the concept of Righteous Government.  The younger son represents  special interest groups with fallacious goals, scrupulous lobbyist, egotists, selfish donors with ulterior motives . The elder son represents past and present patriots dedicated to preserving righteous government.  The Father’s wealth represents our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Irreverent lobbyists, egoists, etc (the younger son) hope to take advantage of righteous government (the Father) by wasting its substance with porkbarrel projects,  unsustainable debt, false accusations, kickbacks, irresponsibility, etc. But eventually all these prove unfulfilling, dangerously robbing themselves of the benefits of a righteous government. Then, having found themselves defeated by difficult social, economic, and  personal troubles, they come to realize their need to return to a sense of righteous government (the Father’s house). Their false sense of entitlements has imploded and honest accountability becomes essential!  

The good news is that a Righteous Government (like the Father)  is always welcoming to those who wandered but now have honest desire to regain, maintain, and retain the blessings of good government.  The integrity of elections (the journey home) is critical to those who seek the “father’s substance.”  

 Today’s patriot (like the elder son) needs to guard against anger, revenge, envy, disappointment, and jealousy so that he, too, doesn’t  lose sight of his  father’s substance— which guarantees the generational inheritance of a righteous government. The patriot is not the indentured servant of the government, rather a Righteous Government supports and protects the patriotic citizen’s inheritance.  Both the younger and elder son must learn to value and preserve the Father-son relationship in order to protect their inherited wealth — a Righteous Government!!