Gospel Passage
Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and
the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told
them this parable: 11 “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he
squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place
throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the
citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself
with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he
said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off
and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran
and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then 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 slaves,
‘Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and
when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and
asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came
out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been
working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a
young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him,
‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because
this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Questions for Discussion:
1. What was the younger son’s terrible sin? What made him stop and come home?
2. Why was the Father so happy? Why is God the Father so happy when we, his
prodigal sons and daughters, come back to him in the Sacrament of Confession (forgiveness)?
3. What was the older son’s problem? Why couldn’t he be happy that his brother
came back? Why do you think he allowed jealousy to make him angry?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
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