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 traveled 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[e] 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 of the three persons in the parable
that you are identified with? Why?
How do you feel about
other’s repentance?