Jesus said:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your property that is mine.' So the father divided his property between his sons.
A few days later, the younger son took what he had gotten and went into a far country and lost everything, having himself a good time.
"He went to work for a farmer, feeding his pigs. He would have been glad to have the food fed to the pigs, but no one gave him anything. 'My father's servants live better than this,' he thought. 'I will go to him and say, "Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am not good enough to be your son. Treat me as your servant."' And he made his way home.
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to him and took him in his arms and kissed him. The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am not good enough to be your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Get the best clothes and put on him. Put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet. Kill the best calf for a feast. For this is my son who was lost and now is found.' They did this, and had a merry feast. "The older son was coming home when he heard all the music and dancing. He called a servant and asked about it. 'Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the best calf for a feast, because he has come back safe and sound,' said the servant. The older son was angry and would not go in. His father came out to reason with him. But he said, 'All these years I have stayed at home and done as you said. But you never had such a feast for me and my friends. Yet you did this for this son who wasted all your property on loose women!' The father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
But it is only right to have such a merry feast, for your brother was lost and now is found."'
|
