NARRATOR: Tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around Jesus to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured.
PHARISEES, SCRIBES: This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.
NARRATOR: Jesus told them a parable.
JESUS: A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father —
YOUNGER SON: Father, give me the share of your property that will fall to me.
JESUS: So the father divided up the property. After a few days the younger son, having gathered together all his things, went away to a far-off country, where he squandered his money in wild living. After he had spent his money, a great famine began throughout that country and he began to suffer terrible need. He attached himself to one of the citizens there, who sent him to feed his pigs. The son longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. Finally he came to his senses.
YOUNGER SON: How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough bread, while I am perishing in famine? I will get up and return to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.”
JESUS: Getting up, the young man set off for his father’s house. While he was still far away, his father caught sight of him and was moved with compassion. He ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
YOUNGER SON: Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.
FATHER: Servants, bring out the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Take the fatted calf and kill it. Let us eat and rejoice because this son of mine was dead and lives again. He was lost and is found.
JESUS: They began to celebrate. Now the elder son was out in the field. As he came in, he neared the house and heard music and dancing. He summoned one of the servants and asked what was happening.
SERVANT: Your brother came, and your father killed the fatted calf because he has him home in good health.
JESUS: The son was angry and would not go in, so his father came out and begged him to come in.
ELDER SON: For so many years I have served you and never neglected your commands, but you have never given me so much as a kid goat to celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours comes back after devouring your property with loose women, you kill the fatted calf for him.
FATHER: Son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice. This brother of yours was dead and lives again. He was lost and is found.
Luke 15.1-3, 11-32
