Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God
The Parable of the Compassionate Father
11 Then[a] Jesus[b] said, “A man had two sons. 12 The[c] younger of them said to his[d] father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate[e] that will belong[f] to me.’ So[g] he divided his[h] assets between them.[i] 13 After[j] a few days,[k] the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered[l] his wealth[m] with a wild lifestyle. 14 Then[n] after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and worked for[o] one of the citizens of that country, who[p] sent him to his fields to feed pigs.[q] 16 He[r] was longing to eat[s] the carob pods[t] the pigs were eating, but[u] no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses[v] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food[w] enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned[x] against heaven[y] and against[z] you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me[aa] like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So[ab] he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home[ac] his father saw him, and his heart went out to him;[ad] he ran and hugged[ae] his son[af] and kissed him. 21 Then[ag] his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven[ah] and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[ai] 22 But the father said to his slaves,[aj] ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe,[ak] and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger[al] and sandals[am] on his feet! 23 Bring[an] the fattened calf[ao] and kill it! Let us eat[ap] and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’[aq] So[ar] they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. As[as] he came and approached the house, he heard music[at] and dancing. 26 So[au] he called one of the slaves[av] and asked what was happening. 27 The slave replied,[aw] ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf[ax] because he got his son[ay] back safe and sound.’ 28 But the older son[az] became angry[ba] and refused[bb] to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 29 but he answered[bc] his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave[bd] for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet[be] you never gave me even a goat[bf] so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours[bg] came back, who has devoured[bh] your assets with prostitutes,[bi] you killed the fattened calf[bj] for him!’ 31 Then[bk] the father[bl] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. 32 It was appropriate[bm] to celebrate and be glad, for your brother[bn] was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”[bo]
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