방탕한 자식이 돌아왔다-어떻게 할 것인가? 예수님의 비유

귀향

 

머나먼 외국으로 떠난 탕자는 오랜 방랑의 세월을 보내면서 그 동안 허망한 꿈을 쫓느냐고 지친 끝에 심한 궁핍을 겪고 스스로 목숨을 부지할 의욕마저 상실하게 되자 떠나온 아버지의 모습, 어머니가 허리 굽혀 보듬어주던 넉넉한 공간의 침실, 맑은 시냇물이 흐르고 있었지만 울타리가 처져 있어서 항상 밖으로 뛰어 나가고 싶었던 농장, 우애는 없었지만 방탕한 성격의 동생이 돌아올 것을 기대하고 동생 몫의 땅을 팔지 못하도록 계속 지켜온 인색한 형님에 대한 생각들이 머리 속에 떠올랐고, 탕자는 스스로 생각해 보니 자신의 행복도 찾지 못했고, 행복 대신에 그가 추구했던 무절제한 향락 또한 오래 지속되지 못했다는 것을 깨달았다.[1]  탕자는 상상해 봤다.  “아버지는 내가 죽은 걸로 여겼다고 처음에는 내게 화를 내겠지만 내가 지음 죄가 있음에도 불구하고 내가 다시 나타난 것을 기뻐하실까?  만약 내가 다 헤진 누더기를 걸치고, 내 고개를 숙이고 얼굴에 회칠을 하고 돌아가 아버지 앞에 무릎을 끓고, “아버지, 제가 하나님과 아버님께 죄를 지었습니다” 이렇게 사죄하면, 아버지께선 두 팔을 뻗으며 “집으로 어서 들어오거라, 내 아들아” 이렇게 말한다면 나는 어떻게 해야 할까?”  탕자는 돌아가는 것이 옳다고 여기고 출발했다. 

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[1] “When, after a long absence, tired of his fancies and as if fallen out of love with himself, the prodigal son, from the depth of destitution he sought, thinks of his father’s face; ….”,  Gide, “The Return of the Prodigal Son”.

"the prodigal son"은 "돌아온 탕자"로 잘 알려진 누가복음 15장에 기록된 예수님의 비유이다.  "탕자"라는 단정적인 표현 자체는 누가복음 속의 비유에 들어 있는 것이 아니다.  단지 두 아들을 두고 있는 어떤 사람의 이야기로 이야기를 시작한다.  "A certain man had two sons."  도덕적 판단이나 법적 판단은 미리 예단해서는 안된다는 측면에서 "탕자"보다는 형과 동생으로 표현하는 것이 보다 나을 듯하다.  앙드레 지드의 소설에서는 셋째 아들이 등장하니므로 탕아는 "차남"으로 대체하는 것이 좋을 듯하다.  

Luke 15:11-32King James Version (KJV)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.