The Parable of the Lost Son (Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

O! Holy Spirit! 

Open my heart and my mind!

To Your inspired Word, 

That it might shape, direct and confront my life according to the Gospel of Jesus, the Lord.

I make this prayer to You In His name. 

Amen 

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Lost vs Found

Three Parables of Luke 15

• Celebration of the lost and found
• Who go in search for? (Man, Woman and Father)
• Numbers (100, 10 and 2)

LECTIO (Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32)

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

² And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable:

^{11 “}There was a man who had two sons;

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¹² and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property (wealth/estate) that falls to me.' And he divided his portion (living) between them.

¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his money in loose living.

¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵ So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ But when he came to his own senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!

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• ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father (πατήρ), I have sinned against heaven and before you;
• ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son (υἱός); treat me as one of your hired servants.”
• ²⁰ And he arose (ἀναστὰς) and returned to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• ²¹ And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
• ²² But the father said to his servants (δοῦλος), “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

• ²³ and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
• ²⁴ for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to make merry.

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• ²⁵ "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
• ²⁶ And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.
• ²⁷ And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'
• <sup>28</sup> But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
• <sup>29</sup> but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a young goat (kid), that I might make merry with my friends.
• ³⁰ But when your son came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!'

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• ³¹ And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
• ³² It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'

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Characters of the Parable of the Lost son�(vv.1-3)

Luke presenting the characters always in pair:

The Evangelist loves to represent the meeting of Jesus with the persons, or in pair instead of the individuals. Both are contradictory...

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• Pharisee and a sinful woman: (Lk 7: 36-50)
• Marta and Mary : (Lk 10: 38-42)
• Two thiefs: (Lk 23: 39-43)
• Abraham’s contact with the poor Lazzarus and the rich man (Lk 16: 19-31)
• in the temple, a Pharisee and Publican (Lk 18: 9-14)

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Younger Brother vs Elder brother

Be glad and Make merry, because...

• bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; (v.23)
• my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to make merry. (v.24)
• It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. (v.32)

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Joy and Rejoicing in Luke

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• “I tell you the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents” (Lk 15:10).
• “My heart praises the Lord, my soul is glad because of God my Saviour! ” (Mary: Lk 1:46-47).
• “Glory to God in the highest heavens! And peace on earth topeople with whom he is pleased!” (the angels: Lk 2:14).

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