Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to
his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his
property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all
he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in
wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in
that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself
out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but
no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of
my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I
will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and
kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and
put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the
fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began
to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.
When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of
the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he
replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him
back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to
go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his
father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed
your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate
with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property
with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
'My son,' the father said, 'you are always
with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be
glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost
and is found.' " Luke 11:15-31 |