Both sons in this parable had similar tendencies. They both questioned their individual identity and these questions cause us to ask our own questions. What is your end vision? What are your longings and desires? What do you think happiness looks like? How does this relate to what the Gospel says? The younger son was unsatisfied and unfulfilled with the comforts of his father’s house. He loved independence and grumbled at what he did not have. He was motivated by finding his own self-worth. He couldn’t rejoice with what he had so he became a slave to what his expectations of his life should be. He soon realized he was the hindrance of enjoying God. His father has compassion on him and runs to him as he returns. The love of our Father is infinite. Our sonship is based only on God’s love for us, not on what we do or how we do it. We can’t add to it or do anything to make it more complete. The younger son realized he was a son when he saw that he didn’t deserve to be a son. It is only a gift of love. The older son was the dutiful and faithful son. He was deeply conflicted in his heart though. He didn’t understand his sonship either and felt like a servant. He couldn’t realize that sonship is a free gift. He wanted to earn something for himself. He loved his work and what he could earn from his father and peers. The father reminds him that what he’s been struggling to earn is actually already his as his son. None come to the table of the Father because of their own righteous deeds. When we were sinners, Christ made a way that we might be able to be sons. The Father pleads with us all to come. God in is His grace wants us to each know Him and to be known by Him.