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: . . . “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
How close is Jesus with me? Do I come near and listen to him, or I keep
him at distance like the Pharisees
and the scribes?
To whom I identify with in the Parable of the
Prodigal Son? How do I see myself before
the Father?