Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to
listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this
parable:
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The
younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property
that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days
later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country,
and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent
everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to
be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have
filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him
anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired
hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get
up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me
like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But
while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion;
he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to
be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a
robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on
his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”
And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son
was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and
dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied,
“Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he
has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in.
His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen!
For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never
disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I
might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”
Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine
is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours
was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
Reflection
Which character in the parable touches me most? Why?
What bothers me most at this time of Lent?