Jesus told the parable in response to the Pharisees' complaint: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15 v 2 ... The younger, lost, or prodigal son was ‘dead’ before, not ...

The older brother in the parable of the prodigal son voices a common ... and kissed him tenderly. (Luke 15:20.) We could be this son or daughter where we have taken something and misused it ...

It is easy to see why the lectionary pairs a text which begins “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven” with Luke’s parable of the son who once was lost but ... joyful noise of music and ...