Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and 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.
After 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.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming 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.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So 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.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But 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.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He 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.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
Always difficult to accept the parable of the Prodigal Son.
Problem these days, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, says “father I have sinned.”
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you…
Are you speaking from a different world than Earth? Of course they are.
Problem is very few utter those words in their heart, for give me Father for I have sinned!
We have all sinned and fallen short… I ask for forgiveness every day and thank God for his love. Many have a heart filled with gratitude. Have hope.. hard to see what is in someone else’s heart.
Dear OriginalDamedDepolorable, your comment is an emotionally charged distorted view of the truth. Perhaps nobody that you are aware of says “Father, I have sinned” but souls repent, and are redeemed, absolved, and saved everyday. It is happening. Keep faith.
I recently broke up with someone for that very reason – a total refusal to accept responsibility. And know many others who are like that.
But there are a whole bunch that do. I do confess to my sins. And the danger I face is that when confessing those sins, I worry that I will never stop sinning – and in that worry, I could lose sight of the eternal forgiveness of our Father.
Every day now, I try to make amends with those I have wronged. I never know when my earthly life ends – and need to be ready to meet the Lord.
A beautiful song for this Lent Season.
I have sinned, and Jesus paid the price!
Agnus Dei/King of Kings
truly I pray your statement was made in haste and you have second thoughts
speaking for myself, and trusting in the humility of others seeking the grace and redemption of Father, perhaps we are not vocal enough in our repentance
The problem isn’t a paucity of being vocal, is a paucity of action to make up for the sin in some way. Restitution is as much a part of being forgiven as is the feeling of being forgiven.
I’m sorry I don’t read restitution in the Bible. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The main thing about confession is that we also forsake the sins.
That is not true.
I HAVE SINNED. I HAVE SINNED.
I HAVE BEEN SAVED because I acknowledge my failures and have repented.
it IS that “easy”.
I would never say nobody. There ARE millions of people, hundreds of millions, billions even that have declared this in their hearts to God.
That they have not made this public should not be evidence that nobody claim.
I am of the view that we often have a predisposition to see the world from a view that is composed of physical evidence. Which is a misake.
the supernatural effect and the naturally “silent” nature of being a wholesome person is lost on “evidence”.
I do not know what my neighbor believes. the public physical aspect confuses me.
But I am also aware that my GOD speaks to me as I have a relationship.
I cannot be the only one. I pray I am not.
WELL SAID
Unless you are God you cannot possibly know that “nobody” says it. I am a Christian as I write this because I said it the day God saved me and I continue to say it. Then again, perhaps I am a nobody. That 59 people here agree with you quit stunning.
I am not sure that comment explains the parable of the prodigal son. I believe it is about the forgiveness of the prodigal son.
Those who believe God accept responsibility for their words and actions and do not hesitate. God knows.
Now is a good time.
It is only difficult if you had the wrong dad
I see those two playing out here.
Jesus came for the sick, because it is the sick that need a doctor.
The reward for doing the right thing is in doing the right thing.
And another reward for doing the right thing is to be part of the Family of God. You get to walk and talk with Him. Hand in hand with Jesus.
Virtue is its own reward. That’s what I was taught.
. . or perhaps child who wronged you and never asked forgiveness ..
He came for the sick because he was to be the ultimate example that a creator of life, a father and a perfector cannot abandon even the most disadvantaged people.
again, I must state this: ALL MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT HAVE MEANING, BOTH PRACTICALLY AND EVEN THEORETICALLY have been formed by the influence of God.
We KNOW right and wrong, because God.
The difference between right and wrong is what distinguished animals from humans with a holy spirit.
Otherwise, we are just tree swinging monkeys adopting social constructs based on evolutionary biological darwin themed deceptions.
to have emphathy for the infirm is not solely to raise one’s stock in the wilderness of beasts.
we do so, because this is what God Commands!
We take care of those who are weak, that cannot defend themselves, not to create status and power…But to preserve the power of God in our hearts, minds and actions.
In doing so, we please God, and the rewards are in keeping with the most elevated joyous loving treasures that God has created.
A few years ago, I sponsored/volunteered to be a partner with a special olympics. I really did not want to do it. I had other things to do. But the blessing of taking part in making someone else smile and proud had a profound change in my conduct as a human being. it was not simply some emotional epiphany either! I examined my heart on that day, and changed my life to become a better person.
that is what happens when you “heal” those that are sick or in need.
Do this..and do it often. And don’t wait to be asked. Just go out today, find someone ..anyone..and I will guarantee that you will learn what it means to be happy.
God Bless America
I think I understand the story.
(After having played the roles of all three main characters)
One could have avoided that ( after experiencing the 3 roles) by pre-adsorbing the
biblical wisdom,
in advance.
( love thy neighbors )
And yet, because most people never do, we have Jesus.
AMEN!
Took the words right out of my fingers❣️
-Amen
…a wise teacher
(for those that listen with all of their hearts, and all of their minds… Luke 10:27 …) … : )
HIS truth is marching on…. (hymn of the republic)
Love thy neighbors
Many people have listened and heard the teacher, Jesus…and are working
( without waiting for someone else to appear and do the good works for them )
to help others to use wise hindsight and truths to help to make this a better place.
Mr. White has connected the dots, and gets it too… : )
Video 28 min.
(While here, as a child of God,
what is my purpose…)
https://rumble.com/vym0ij-royce-white-in-the-warroom-his-history-his-truth-his-future.html
Menagarie…you have a gift. A precious gift.
I appreciate that.
God Bless America
Personally, I am currently starring as the fattened calf.
I been practicing to be your backup. I’m getting their.
😁
🙂 I know what you mean.
A gal in my Bible study class spoke of her wayward uncle who found the LORD before he passed away.
She said he asked that his tombstone say, “A sinner, saved by grace.”
Faith is a gift from GOD.
Love to all.
I’ve heard atheists argue this is why they can’t accept Christianity, for it encourages bad behavior by those thinking they’ll just play their get-out-of-jail-free card after they’ve gained by hurting others. It doesn’t seem just to them.
Just answer them that deliberately sinning with the intention of confessing to get off scot-free is called “presuming on God’s mercy” and is itself a deadly sin. God is not mocked.
Like Nancy Pelosi.
Excuses comes in a variety of excuses
The atheists can’t see themselves as the “older brothers” in the Parable. How ironic!
They also know nothing about the Sovereign God, who He is and he works. And they do not have even basic knowledge of Christianity.
Indeed. Christ’s teachings are difficult. The parable was about resurrection, and his father accepted the reborn akin to accepting Christ. Menagerie left out the sibling could not accept and was cast away by the Father. Younger days this was more difficult a parable, but with children this becomes much easier to understand our Creators love, and the strong desire of the Creator for us to accept Christ which has us live in peace. If everyone did, all the bad stuff would end.
God wants us to be happy, we just get in the way.
Happy Easter!
We do not know what happened to the older brother. The Scripture doesn’t say, but that’s probably because the older brother represents the Jews. That’s how the Jew’s themselves see it, and they’ve taken offense at the Catholic Church (the mainstream Vatican II Church) calling them “elder brothers” precisely because of this long-time understanding about them equaling this elder brother in this parable.
So we’re not told what happened to the older brother because, at the time of the parable, they hadn’t decided which way they would go.
The Prodigal Son is primarily not about the son. It’s all about the Father.
Indeed, in many ways. The father was certainly on the lookout for the younger son, as God would be for us. But then, had the younger son not repented, he’d have been lost forever.
Each parable of Our Lord carries many meanings and insights, like a Shakespeare play. Now, with this one, and I do not say this is my interpretation, but the traditional understanding was that the younger brother, the prodigal, represents the Christians, and the older brother the Jews. The Jews themselves have always understood it so. And that’s way, when, after Vatican II, the Catholic Church stopped trying to convert Jews and so on, and began – for quite a while and even lately – referring to Jews as “our elder brothers”, the rabbis told them to knock it off. They see “our elder brothers” as a direct reference to them, and an insult. That’s because of how the elder brother reacted when the prodigal returned. Also, Our Lord didn’t say what happened to the older brother. The idea behind that, old-time exegetes said, was because when the parable was given, the Jews hadn’t decided yet about Christ.
FWIW, and of course, as noted, it can carry many meanings, indeed.
In what way? The Father is way more forgiving toward us than we are to others-if we ask.
Once again thank you Menagerie for reminding us of reality.
God bless you and all on here.
Dittos
I love the whole of Luke 15.
For personal reasons. And more.
To me, it means, never give up on anyone. Most particularly your children, but then also, your society, or world.
This can be difficult.
And you may not prevail.
But Luke 15 in its entirety, maybe as an example – the story of the lost coin, or the lost sheep, out of all one’s wealth – begs that one be open to recovery of the same.
Does not guarantee their return.
The prodigal son is but one leg of this gospel. The other legs/examples do not even know they are lost.
Which is much more dire.
Still, this gospel brings hope!
And resilience.
=======
Easter is my favorite celebration.
OG
Happy Laetare Sunday.
Rejoice!
A very tough swallow.
All commit sin. All fall short. All can be forgiven. Not All can except!
Having been one and now helping other prodigal sons and daughters – thank you, Menagerie.
Without deep and sincere repentance there is no entrance into Heaven.
Indeed. And can we be ever sure we really repent? Only if we change our life around, and that in itself is impossible without Divine Grace. For myself, I’m glad God is the Judge because all my life I’ve known people who repented weeping and wailing, only to go back to their old way, myself sometimes included. It’s a life-long process.
I have a daughter I sent to what used to be a Christian college. 4 yrs wages paid for it. The propaganda turned her from her faith. For seven yrs I did not know where she was. But now and then a friend or relative would glimpse her somewhere in town. All I wanted to know was if she were alive and okay, not in harms way.
The father RAN,watching the horizon for that speck that walked like his son. On seeing him coming he gathered his robes up, running, shamelessly exposing his legs. He didn’t care, falling on his neck overlooking the stench of the unclean pigs. He was alive thats all that mattered to him.
That’s our father in heaven watching for any little sign from each if us to acknowledge our wretchedness . Jesus paid our debts so we could LIVE.
That’s what he wants.
This
Amen!
I pray that you and your daughter have reunited as well.
Thank you.
Yes I sleuthed until I found her and invited her to Christmas. She’s still a liberal though. Some things
just take more time.🙏
So very true. Maybe a lifetime.
Catholics, make sure you go to confession. Not the newchurch way, which is once a year, but the 2000 year-old way, every week to make sure you are in a state of grace before receiving the Blessed Sacrament. Abstain from communion if you are in a state of mortal sin as St. Paul says unworthy reception leads to your destruction.
One of the great things about being Catholic is Confession. Not only are you restored to your baptismal state of grace, you get to confront yourself and your sins in order to name them, and in doing that, especially if you do it regularly, you get to see how you are progressing (or regressing). It is much easiler to keep tract.
A great parable from Jesus – he knew why he had been sent and was trying to change the attitudes of the Pharisees (and all the people) in preparation for his sacrifice.
But what a great “attitude” adjustment for all of us as we read this about forgiveness that we need ….. and should be offering to others. Forgiveness and thankfulness – pass it on!
Thank You Jesus for my salvation. I pray that none of my family will miss salvation until Jesus returns
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
John’s Gospel Chapter 14 verses 8-11
One of the tragic failures of the visible, institutional church is we have unintentionally recreated the same exclusive religious club Jesus came to set us free from.
The veil that separated the Ark of the Covenant and defined the “Holy of Holies” – that place in the temple that symbolized the very presence of God on Earth we are told, was “torn from top to bottom”.
It was God’s idea to free us, restore us, purify and heal us.
It is his idea to actually be “friends” with us.
This whole story, all of human history and culture and life, is about Jesus.
Jesus, the God-man who came to set us free from our our tendency towards self-destructive behaviors and alienation from the only One truly capable of enabling us to live in right relationship with God and man, will have his Bride and will receive the Glory, Honor and recognition only He deserves.
He is longing for relationship and longing to see us rightly Father the emerging generation.
It is coming.
It is happening.
It will not be stopped.
I never made the connection between the accusations of the Pharisees and the parable of the Prodigal son before. Thank you! 🙏
Like yourself, I too, never put those two together until I happened to see this scene from the Franco Zeffirelli mini series. “Jesus of Nazereth”. I was a bit taken aback that I had never really studied Luke 15 in it’s entirety and I was a bit embarrassed. Zeffirelli took the smallest of liberties for time’s sake and juxtaposed Luke 14 and 15 to make the scene clearer.
Zeffirelli’s use of the outside wind noise in place of music and the ambient firelight flickering on everyone’s faces is refreshing and places the film outside any typical studio atmosphere. Jesus is powerfully preaching to two separate groups here at the same time. They soon come to see their roles … the “Older Brothers” … too proud to cross the threshhold into the “Younger Brothers” party and the “Younger Brothers” increasingly ashamed at their own decadence.
There is a longer version of this scene with an explanatory preface and a reconciliation at the end available on youtube.
POWERFUL stuff.
Still waiting for my prodigal son to return. He knows the way but the bottle keeps him gone.
Do I go and get him?
Seek out a local Al Anon meeting. Please. There is experience, strength, and hope for families of alcoholics and a way through the questions. I know. I am one.
Pray. Pray with full faith. Pray that even if you lose your son, that he will find his way to God.
I did – and my prayer was answered the very next day.
Loving Creator of mine,
I feel the pace quicken, the
time draws near.
I am filled with joy as I move towards Easter
and the promised reconciliation with you.
Teach me to follow the example of your Son,
to be worthy of being called one of his people, a Christian. Help me to live each day as he did turning hatred to love and conflict to peace. I await the new life with eagerness, faith
and a deep gratitude.
One of the greatest religious works by one of the greatest composers in History:
Anton Bruckner’s Ecce Sacerdos Magnus (Behold a Great Priest): a 7-minute meditation on increasing faith among the people.
Ecce sacerdos magnus, qui in diebus suis placuit Deo.
Ideo jure jurando fecit illum Dominus crescere in plebem suam.
Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi
et testamentum suum confirmavit super caput ejus.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God.
Therefore, by an oath, the Lord made him increase among his people.
He gave him the blessing of all nations,
and confirmed his covenant upon his head.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
God runs to us when we draw near to His presence! It’s in God’s nature to bless us with salvation and forgive us if we humble ourselves and submit to His will! Love this story having been a prodigal son myself!
Amen
Isaiah 12:1
In that day you will say:
“I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger turned away
that you might comfort me.”
Well I needed that. I sit watching my wife die these days. I have been that crazy son. But he has brought me back into him because he knew I could not do this without him. Thank you for your writing
Prayers for you and your wife, Jo.
When I was younger I had a hard time understanding this parable. One day reading this parable I suddenly realized that I am a Prodigal Son and thought God please forgive me.
Thank God He welcomed this despicable sinner home. To God be the Glory forever, Amen!
I wept a little . I am 64 now, raised Catholic and I am now the father. The perfect closure of redemption and forgiveness is awe inspiring. The state cannot forgive. The son cannot redeem himself to the state. The second privileged son cannot find humility in the state. The triune perfection in this parable is beautiful.
The farmer’s younger son was the exception to the current rule. If he was truly repent and wanted redemption, then OK. But unfortunately this is just but a parable. I wish it were so. I was in law enforcement for many years and saw many things. I’m racking my brain trying to recall a situation, such as this, wherein the transgressor saw the light as it were and turned his life around. I’m sure there are some. Most people would say my views are slanted because of too many years dealing with criminals and miscreants. Very probably true. However, I would say that most people live in ‘fairy land’ regarding the reality of SOME of thier fellow citizens and relatives. This just enables and adds to their transgressions. I don’t have the answers…..
‘Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18;21
That is our personal responsibility.
However, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and render unto God what is God’s” doesn’t only refer to money. It also tells us that societal laws are different than God’s laws – and both can co-exist.
I personally know several ex-addicts who have been clean for many, many years – decades in the case of a few.
Keep the faith!
What if the brother doesn’t ask for forgiveness? Or what happens in an abusive relationship? One must just keep forgiving when forgiveness is not asked for or be abused and keep suffering abuse?
Only a true saint could bear that burden. I’m not saying true saints don’t exist, of course, but most of us couldn’t survive long in such a situation. I could not.
My Church is full of people changing their lives and following Christ.
We have a very active Celebrate Recovery.
We are all SINNERS.
We all need God’s loving Grace. Jesus paid the price!
There is probably a version of The Prodigal Son with Democrats in starring roles but on a Lenten Sunday we should probably focus on how a good family behaves.
”I don’t have the answers…..”
The One who told the parable does. THAT is the point of this parable. No matter how filthy we are in our sin. He is gracious and merciful. He will forgive us when we repent. He will create in us clean heart and put a right spirit is us so we CAN change.
I remember Our Lord’s saying that “They have Moses and the prophets. If they don’t believe them, then they wouldn’t believe even if someone rose from the dead.” St. Luke, chapter 16 about the beggar Lazarus sand the rich man. Many people are like that. They just won’t believe. And the more one doesn’t believe, the more one falls into sin, the harder it becomes for them to change. But it has to be God Who makes that decision, which gives rise to the Predestination mystery. That’s a true mystery beyond any of us. But one comfort is this famous passage, Psalm 19:9: “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” Everyone one, with no exception, whether in Heaven or Hell, will all say that verse and everyone will mean it, the damned and the saved. We’ll all be where we want to be, in other words.
Truly do we pray, “Lord, have mercy.”
This is a tough one.
Third Sunday of Great Lent in the Orthodox Christian Church
Sunday of the Veneration of the Precious and Life-giving Cross
“I was getting less and less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all God’s children and therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to God.”
Ronald Wilson Reagan, March 30, 1981 in “The Reagan Diaries”.
Lovely!
The Fourth Week of Lent
With this week, we begin the second part of Lent. We ask more and more deeply to be with and like Jesus. We desire to celebrate the approaching mystery of our salvation with greater freedom and greater joy.
Each day’s gospel will now be from the Gospel according to John.
We can’t avoid the feeling of being in a court room for a grand trial. There are “witnesses” and “testimony.” It is a battle between the forces of Darkness and the Light. The opposition to Jesus mounts. It is inevitable that he will be killed. But, we know that the ultimate Judgment in the trial is against Sin and Death. We grow in gratitude and grace as we experience more deeply that this is all “for me.”
FOR ME.
I am not of catholic upbringing and religious tone. But I understand the gospel truth.
I believe IN JESUS AND WHAT HIS LIFE AND DEATH AND REBORN LIFE MEANS AS A CHRISTIAN.
IT IS SUPERNATURAL. WE MUST NEVER BE CONFUSED ABOUT THE “MYSTERIES OF GOD”…He LORD has gifted ALL OF US WITH THE MOST POWERFUL FUNDAMENTAL GRACE – to act on faith!
Faith! Obedience and hope (not the physical hope of emotions, but the hope as defined by the one and only true meaning of hope.
elpis
expectation, trust, and confidence. It comes from the root word elpo, which means to anticipate (with pleasure) and to welcome. Elpis is an expectation of what is guarantee
rejoice, he IS RISEN.
hope in the formal original format is a profound annuciation of the human spirit to acknowledge and understand the blessing and promise of GOD.
I love God. he is my creator. he will never abandon me. He has made me and know me. Lord God has a plan, and it is magnificent and perfect.
I hope for these truths everyday.
God Bless America
thank you sundance and TEAM TREEPERS for behaving according to the truths of God.
You ARE BLESSED.
and we notice and appreciate and salute this behavior.
God Bless America
God will welcome us back to His Church when we confess, repent and sin no more.
Sniffer Joe needs to not only understand that his “favorite” son, Beau, is dead but Hunter is also dead, morally. At least the wastrel son in the parable was somewhat remorseful; Hunter is not and is still acting in evil ways against God and Country.
Time to leave a 6-pack of Jolt Cola outside the Confessional the Biden’s local Delaware church with a note to the priest letting him know that he will need the caffeine to stay awake for the marathon Confession from Hunter. Or install a fake headstone next to Beau’s with Hunter’s name on it and list of sins.
It is sad that Jill and Joe wanted the Office of the Presidency so much that they would not rather save their last son from Hell. Especially since we ALL now know that the Laptop was REAL and implicates Joe in “big F—–g deals”.
Beautiful lesson in the forgiveness of our Lord.
Admit you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, 6:23)
God forgives sin when we admit it to him (1 John 1:9)
Jesus died so that all people could be saved (Isaiah 53:6)
Receive His forgiveness as you acknowledge/believe in His death as payment for sin and resurrection from the dead (power over the grave.) (Romans 10:9-10)
He paid a debt He did not owe; we owe a debt we cannot pay. By believing you will receive forgiveness, and therefore PEACE with God and eternal life in Christ, by His grace.
That image reminds me of Father Arseny.
“When God ran.” Phillips, Craig, & Dean song on YouTube. Touching!