Today’s Gospel
for the family
Today's Gospel + image + catechesis
»He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son said: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son...’. But the father turned to his servants: ‘Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found’. And the celebration began.
»Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: ‘Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he has ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf’. The elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son said: ‘Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him’. The father said: ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad’».
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Illustration: Fr. Lluís Raventós Artés
Today Jesus introduces us to His Father. In the parable of “the prodigal Son” we discover the infinite mercy of God: the father, full of grief, assumes the decision of his son who, for the sake of his own freedom, ends up losing all freedom and is left with no love. In the end he remembers his father: he is his only hope. .. A Hope which is no fraud! The father receives him like a son, in his open arms and with an immense happiness.
-The father will not recover the money wasted by the son: it will not matter! You are far more worthy tan money. You are my son!