The Son Who Left Home

¹¹ Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided the property between his two sons. ¹³ Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and left. He traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living. ¹⁴ He spent everything that he had. Soon after that, the land became very dry, and there was no rain. There was not enough food to eat anywhere in the country. The son was hungry and needed money. ¹⁵ So he got a job with one of the citizens there. The man sent the son into the fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ The son was so hungry that he was willing to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All of my father’s servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger. ¹⁸ I will leave and return to my father. I’ll say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and against you. ¹⁹ I am not good enough to be called your son. But let me be like one of your servants.’ ²⁰ So the son left and went to his father.

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. He felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him, and hugged and kissed him. ²¹ The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am not good enough to be called your son.’^{[a] 22} But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ And get our fat calf and kill it. Then we can have a feast and celebrate! ²⁴ My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

¹¹ Now, brothers, I say good-bye. Live in harmony. Do what I have asked you to do. Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Give each other a holy kiss when you greet each other. ¹³ All of God’s holy people send greetings to you.

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.