A story that Jesus told time and again is well worth understanding. A rich man had two sons.

One boy
turned into a vagabond. When he came of age he demanded his half share, which he took and left for
the city, for the village offered no means of spending his money: there were no gambling houses, no
taverns, no prostitutes. He lost every penny he had in these pursuits and become a roadside beggar. The
father was keeping track of him. When he heard of his son’s destitution, he was very unhappy. He knew
that it was useless to try to bring him back by force, for that might take him farther away. He could only
wait, hoping that when his son began to see things in their right perspective he would return on his own.
The elder son remained at home. He worked hard and had doubled the remaining inheritance. He
plowed the fields and tended the vineyards, working from morning to night. Then one day it occurred to
the beggar son: ”I shall die this way. I still have a home. My father is alive and I can count on his love. He
gave me an opportunity to learn for myself what is right and what is wrong, so I am sure his compassion
will not fail me now and he will take me back to his heart. I have full confidence in him.” One day he sent
word to his father that he was coming home. The father arranged a grand reception. He had lambs
butchered and the best of everything prepared, for his son was coming home. He decorated the whole
village with flowers and invited everybody in the village. The elder brother was in the fields. Someone
went to him and said, ”It is so injust! You have served your father faithfully your whole life and have
doubled and trebled his assets. You have never gone against his wishes, yet he never arranged such a
grand reception in your honor. Now your brother who squandered his inheritance on wine, women and
song is returning, and look at what your father is doing for him. It is rank injustice.” The elder brother
also felt it was unfair. He returned home saddened and downhearted. He saw the lamps and the flowers
set out in his brother’s honor and could bear it no longer. He went to his father and said, ”I have served
you and obeyed you my whole life, but you have never prepared a feast in my honor. Today this prodigal
son of yours returns home and look how much you have done to receive him. I can’t believe my eyes.”
The father replied, ”Son, you have always been near me. You never went astray, so there was no need
to welcome you. You are always with me and welcome every moment. You are so close to my heart, but
this boy who went astray, who wandered and ruined himself, and for whom I spent so many anxious,
sleepless nights, he is returning and needs to be welcomed. You gave me no cause for worry; instead I
have always been happy and pleased with you, so there is no need to express excessive happiness in
your case.” When the prodigal returns a magnificent reception is called for. Jesus would say: Good
people, holy men and saints, are like the elder brother; those who have gone stray, sinned, committed
crimes, are like the younger brother. Jesus made this a wonderful beginning for his spiritual teachings
and because of this, the Jews turned against him. For the Jews believe that he who sins is punished by
God; whereas Jesus has said He will welcome him when he returns for He loves him. Do as much wrong
as you please, you cannot remove yourself from His heart. You may show your back to Him but He will
wait. He is the Father of all. This is what Nanak is saying, that He is so filled with joy and dances in
ecstasy whenever the prodigal returns. This is the union of freedom and love. Do what you will, you
cannot displease Him. His love for you is much deeper than anything you might do. But His attachment is
not like yours. He doesn’t chain you by the neck. God is not a prison; God is love and freedom. It is
difficult to explain, for they appear so contrary, for when you love a person you take away his freedom,
and when you give freedom you say goodbye to love. Where affection and nonaffection both are, where
desire and desirelessness both are, where all contradictions unite, there is the great confluence. NANAK
SAYS, TO DESCRIBE HIM IS LIKE CHEWING ON IRON.