The Lost Son and the Welcoming Father

Jesus told of a man with two sons. The younger son asked for his share of the family property, and the father divided his livelihood between them. Soon the younger son left for a distant country and wasted everything in reckless living.

After he had spent it all, a severe famine came to that country, and he began to be in need. He found work feeding pigs. He was so hungry that he wanted to fill himself with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Then he came to his senses. He remembered that his father's hired servants had bread to spare while he was dying with hunger. He decided to go home, confess that he had sinned against heaven and before his father, and ask to be treated as a hired servant.

While he was still far away, his father saw him, felt compassion, ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. The son began his confession, but the father told the servants to bring the best robe, a ring, and sandals, and to prepare the fattened calf. They began to celebrate because the son who had been lost was found.

The older son came in from the field and heard music and dancing. When a servant told him his brother had returned and his father had welcomed him back safe and well, he became angry and would not go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. The older son complained that he had served faithfully, but the father said it was right to celebrate, because this brother had been dead and was alive again, and had been lost and was found. Which brother would you rather be like?