Luke 15:11-32 The lost son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your propertywith prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” TO SEE THE STORY THROUGH PICTURES CLICK THE LINK BELOW http://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/prodigal-son/ This story is relevant to Reconciliation as it is important in the Roman Catholic church to forgive. When the boy disobeys his father and leaves him to spend all his money, it is similar to when we disobey God and do something we know we shouldn't. The father welcomes his son back into the family with open arms, just as God forgives us when we ask for forgiveness for our sins, in Reconciliation. The boy realised he had done wrong and made an effort to make up for his mistakes just like we should do when we go to confession. |
Luke 19:1-10
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-figtree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT JESUS AND THE TAX COLLECTOR. https://youtu.be/0nqllVTt1bA This scripture passage is a good example of Reconciliation and forgiveness. In the passage, Zacchaeus the tax collector had done wrong by many people and had continuously sinned, he had lost his way just as many of us do. When Jesus came to him, Zacchaeus changed his ways and tried to repay the people he had taken money from. This is relevant as sometimes we can hurt people physically and emotionally. In the book of Mathew it says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you". Simply meaning treat others the way you would like to be treated. Reconciliation is not only a time where you confess your sins, but it is also a promise to God that you will try harder to not make the same mistakes as you once did. As Catholics it is important to try and change your bad habits just as Zacchaeus did. |