The Prodigal Son
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 servants 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 servants." 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 us 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.'
Reference: Luke 15:11-32
The Lost Son Returns
A young man grew restless under his father's guidance and demanded his portion of the family inheritance because he wanted independence without responsibility. After receiving the money, he moved far from home and lived extravagantly, spending everything on entertainment, parties, and short lived pleasures. When the money disappeared, so did his friends, and he found himself alone and overwhelmed by hardship. Hunger and regret pushed him to consider returning home, even if he had to ask for the lowest position in his father's household.
As he approached, his father saw him in the distance and ran to embrace him with overwhelming relief, restoring his dignity before the young man could finish apologizing. A celebration followed because the father valued relationship more than repayment or punishment. Jesus teaches that God’s mercy reaches us long before we have earned it and that repentance is welcomed with compassion rather than condemnation. No matter how far someone wanders, God’s heart remains open to their return.