THE PRODIGAL SON  

Jesus preached to the people using lot of parables. One of the famous parable is 'the parable of the prodigal son'.

Once, a father had two sons. The younger son demanded his father to give him his share of the property. His father did so and the son left for a far away country with lots of money which he got out of selling the property.

 
He made lots of friends there, and spent his money on all sort of bad things. When the money was all gone, his friends also left him. Hunger struck him so hard that he did not know how to survive. Finally, he landed himself in taking care of pigs as his full-time job. But his master denied him money and food.

Days rolled by and he was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pigs' food, but nobody gave him even that.

Finally he came back to his senses and said to himself, "Even my father's servants have more food than I do. I will go home and tell my father that I have sinned against him and against God, and that I do not deserve to be his son. But I will ask if I can be at least one of his servants."

So he went home. His father saw him while he was still far off and ran to him and hugged him, kissed him. And there was no bounds for the joy in the father's heart. He was so happy that his son had finally come back to him.

Then the father said to the servants, "Bring out my best of clothes and a pair of shoes for him, and kill the finest calf and let's have a party; for this son of mine was lost and is found." While they were partying, his elder brother came and complained that he had all along been with his father and gained nothing; but was angry at his father that they were celebrating the return of the prodigal son. But his father consoled him saying, "All that I have now is yours. But this son of mine was once dead and is alive again."

Yes little children! The father loved his son so much even though he went against his wishes. Likewise, our heavenly Father truly loves us and cares about us even though at times, we walk away from him and go by our own desires. But when we return back to Him seeking His forgiveness, He awaits with his arms wide open to embrace and kiss us.

Q1. What did the prodigal son eat during the famine?

Q2.  What did the father do on his son's arrival?