The Parable of the Prodigal Son has long been understood as a simple story of forgiveness, a tale where a rebellious son finds his way home and is welcomed by his loving father. But what if this story holds something deeper, a hint at a far-reaching truth about God’s ultimate plan for all of humanity? Christian Universalism, particularly as Origen taught, offers a compelling vision: that all souls, no matter how lost, will one day be restored to God. By revisiting this parable through the lens of Origen’s apokatastasis—the restoration of all things—we may uncover the subtle hints Jesus left about the fate of humanity.

The Younger Son: Rebellion, Return, and Redemption

At the heart of the parable is the younger son, who embodies humanity’s fall into sin and separation from God. His rebellion, fueled by selfish desires, leads him far from his father’s house. Yet, his story doesn’t end there. Broke and broken, he returns home, expecting judgment but instead receiving grace.

The father runs to him, embraces him, and restores him to his rightful place as a son. This moment illustrates the core of the Christian message: no matter how far we stray, God’s grace is always ready to restore us. The younger son’s return and his father’s reaction mirror the hope that Origen saw in the gospel—the idea that God’s love is so powerful that even the most wayward soul can find a way home.

But this isn’t the full story. The younger son’s restoration is only part of the picture. There’s another figure lingering outside the feast—the older brother.

The Older Brother: Resistance and the Open Door

The older brother represents another side of humanity: those who resist grace, whether out of pride, jealousy, or self-righteousness. He stands outside the celebration, bitter and judgmental. He cannot understand how his younger brother, after squandering everything, could be welcomed back with open arms. This character is often overlooked, but in the context of Christian Universalism, his story holds great significance.

While the parable ends without telling us what happens next, Jesus leaves us a critical clue. The father doesn’t reject the older son or condemn him for his bitterness. Instead, he offers a gentle reminder: “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” The father leaves the door open, both literally and figuratively. He invites the older son to step inside and join the celebration, just as he invited the younger son to return home.

This open-ended conclusion is key. It doesn’t end with the older son permanently outside; it ends with an invitation. In this way, the parable hints at a broader hope—that even those who resist or stand in judgment are not beyond God’s reach. The father’s posture is one of eternal patience, a reflection of the belief that, ultimately, all will be reconciled to God.

The Father’s Posture: A Symbol of God’s Endless Grace

The father in the parable symbolizes God’s unchanging nature: ever loving, ever patient, and ever open to reconciliation. He doesn’t slam the door on the older brother, just as God never closes the door on anyone. This is where Origen’s vision of apokatastasis—the belief that all things will be restored to God—comes into play. For Origen, the open-endedness of this story suggests that no soul is irredeemable.

God, like the father in the parable, continues to extend His hand to both the rebellious and the self-righteous. The lack of final resolution in the story is not a narrative flaw, but rather an invitation to see the larger picture—that the offer of grace never expires. This posture of the father reflects Origen’s conviction that God will ultimately draw all people to Himself, even those who initially refuse His grace.

The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son

To further understand this universal hope, it helps to look at other parables that carry similar themes. The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, for example, both center on the relentless pursuit of what is lost. In each case, the story ends in joy, not because the lost object deserved to be found, but because the one who lost it never gave up searching.

Jesus says in Luke 15:4-7, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” The implication is clear: God seeks out the lost until they are found. The same can be said for the Prodigal Son. The father’s joy is not conditional on the younger son’s perfection; it is purely the result of his return. The same joy is extended to the older brother, if only he would step inside.

These parables, when read together, paint a picture of a God whose mercy knows no limits, a God who will not rest until all are brought home. Origen, in his reflections, saw these parables as evidence that in the end, no soul would remain lost forever.

The Open Ending: A Clue to the Final Restoration

Returning to the Prodigal Son, we see that its unresolved ending invites us to consider a deeper truth. The story doesn’t tell us what happens next, but it leaves us with a hopeful expectation: the father’s love, represented by the open door, remains available. The older brother is not condemned to remain outside forever. The door remains open, the invitation extended.

For those who, like Origen, look closely at the nature of God, this open ending suggests the ultimate reconciliation of all people. The parable invites us to believe that, just as the younger son was restored, so too will the older son—and, by extension, all of humanity—eventually join the feast. The parable leaves us with hope, not only for individual salvation but for the final restoration of all creation.

Conclusion: Origen’s Vision and the Gospel’s Universal Promise

Origen’s vision of apokatastasis wasn’t a fringe idea but a natural outflow of the gospel message. The Prodigal Son, when read in light of this broader hope, hints at the universal reconciliation of all souls. The father’s open invitation to the older brother stands as a symbol of God’s endless grace, always extended, never revoked.

As the parable suggests, the final act is yet to come, but the direction is clear: God’s love will ultimately prevail, and His children—both the wayward and the resistant—will be restored. The Prodigal Son is a reminder that the story of humanity is still unfolding, and the God who welcomes the younger brother home is the same God who keeps the door open for the older brother, waiting for all to return.