Jesus' Parable Of The Prodigal Son

Scripture Readings: Luke 15:11-32

And Jesus said, "A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father,
give me that part of your property which will be mine. And he made division of his goods between
them. And not long after, the younger son got together everything which was his and took a journey
into a far-away country, and there all his money went in foolish living. And when everything was
gone, there was no food to be had in that country, and he was in need. And he went and put himself
into the hands of one of the people of that country, and he sent him into his fields to give the pigs
their food. And so great was his need that he would have been glad to take the pigs' food, and no
one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses, he said, what numbers of my father's
servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food! I will get
up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your
eyes: I am no longer good enough to be named your son: make me like one of your servants. And he
got up and went to his father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with
pity for him and went quickly and took him in his arms and gave him a kiss. And his son said to him,
Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes: I am no longer good enough to be
named your son. But the father said to his servants, Get out the first robe quickly, and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet: And get the fat young ox and put it to death, and let
us have a feast, and be glad. For this, my son, who was dead, is living again; he had gone away from
me, and has come back. And they were full of joy. Now the older son was in the field: and when he
came near the house, the sounds of music and dancing came to his ears. And he sent for one of the
servants, questioning him about what it might be. And he said to him, Your brother has come; and
your father has had the young ox put to death because he has come back safely. But he was angry
and would not go in; and his father came out and made a request to him to come in. But he made
answer and said to his father, See, all these years I have been your servant, doing your orders in
everything: and you never gave me even a young goat so that I might have a feast with my friends:
But when this your son came, who has been wasting your property with bad women, you put to
death the fat young ox for him. And he said to him, Son, you are with me at all times, and all I have is
yours. But it was right to be glad and to have a feast; for this your brother, who was dead, is living
again; he had gone away and has come back."