The disposition of the father toward his prodigal son when he demanded his inheritance, when he squandered it among pigs and whores in foreign lands, and when in disgrace and desperation he returned groveling at his feet, remained fixed throughout.

All vacillation and tumult occurred within the son, and never within the father.

The disposition of the father toward his eldest son when he refused to attend the banquet in honor of his restored younger brother, when he pouted in pride and superiority, and when he hurled accusations of injustice to his face, remained fixed throughout.

All vacillation and tumult occurred within the son, and never within the father.

In both cases the sons had left their father, filling his heart with grief. In both cases he yearned for and entreated their return. In all, his immutable disposition stood fast, saying:

You are always with me. And, all I have is yours.

Knowing this, the young son exploited it to wrest his inheritance from his father, for his own ends.

The elder brother, being so consumed with what he 'deserved', never realized what was in his father's heart all along.

Bob Weidman