The Parable of the Lost Son

Today's Reflections

 

The Parable of the Lost Son 

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Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

... ¹¹[Jesus] said, “A man had two sons, ¹²and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. ¹³After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. ¹⁴When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. ... ¹⁷Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. ¹⁸I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” ’

²⁰So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. ²¹His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ ²²But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, ²⁴because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. ²⁵Now the older son… became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. ³⁰But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ ³¹He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. ³²But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

Reflection:

The father ran to his son. The parable of the merciful father (prodigal son) is Jesus’ reply to the criticism that he welcomes sinners and eats with them. He declares, “I behave this way because this is the way God, my Father, acts.” The parable reveals the heart of God which Jesus shows by his actions. God is a merciful father who reaches out to all his children to bring them home and to unite them with one another.

Do not let anything prevent you

from allowing yourself to be loved by God.