The Merciful Father of the Prodigal Son

by FLL Editorial Team
2014-03-22

路加福音 15:1-3,11-32


那時候,眾稅吏及罪人們都來接近耶穌,為聽他講道。法利塞人及經師們竊Th。當他把所有的都揮霍盡了以後,那地方正遇著大荒年,他便開始窮困起來。他去投靠一個當地的居民;那人打發他到自己的莊田裡上去放豬。他恨不能拿豬吃的豆莢來果腹,可是沒有人給他。他反躬自問:我父親有多少傭工,都口糧豐盛,我在這裡反要餓死!我要起身到我父親那裡去,並且要給他說:父親,我得罪了天,也得罪了你。我不配再稱作你的兒子,把我當作你的一個傭工吧!他便起身到他父親那裡去了。他離的還遠的時候,他父親就看見了他,動了憐憫的心,跑上前去,撲到他的脖子上,熱情地親吻他。兒子向他說:父親!我得罪了天,也得罪了你,我不配再稱作你的兒子了!父親卻吩咐自己的僕人說:你們快拿出上等的袍子來給他穿上;把戒指戴在他手上,給他腳上穿上鞋,再把那隻肥牛犢牽來宰了,我們應吃喝歡宴,因為我這個兒子是死而復生,失而復得了;他們就歡宴起來。那時,他的長子正在田地裡。當他回來快到家的時候,聽見有奏樂及歌舞的歡聲,遂叫一個僕人過來,問他這是什麼事。僕人向他說:你弟弟回來了。你父親因為見他無恙歸來,便為他宰了那隻肥牛犢。長子就生氣不肯進去,他父親遂出來勸解他。他回答父親說:你看,這些年來我服侍你,從未違背過你的命令,而你從未給過我一隻小山羊,讓我同我的朋友們歡宴;但你這個兒子同娼妓們耗盡了你的財產,他一回來,你倒為他宰了那隻肥牛犢。父親給他說:孩子!你常同我在一起,凡我所有的,都是你的;只因為你這個弟弟死而復生,失而復得,應當歡宴喜樂!」

Rembrandt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Rembrandt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


在這天的福音中,法利塞人及經師們不滿耶穌時常跟罪人在一起。耶穌用浪子的比喻作回應。

耶穌的比喻充分表達出天主的慈悲。一個人再壞也好,只要他願意回頭,誠心向天主懺悔,一定能得到赦免。如有人冒犯我們,我們要記著這人是天主所愛的。我們要向祂祈求恩寵,好使我們有能力寬恕。

比喻中的長子所指的是利塞人及經師們。他們以為守法就能成義,對於做盡壞事的罪人得救,他們覺得不公平。讓我們不要墮下同樣的陷阱。在天主面前,又有誰不需要慈悲呢?

Luke 15:1-3,11-32


Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.$2"0$
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.$0"1$

In today's Gospel, the Pharisees and scribes complained that Jesus often spend time with sinners. Jesus responded with the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The parable shows that God is absolutely merciful. It does not matter how badly someone sins, he/she will be forgiven so long as their repentance is true. If someone offends us, let us remember that this person is loved by God. We have to ask God for the grace so that we can forgive.

The elder son in the parable represents the Pharisees and scribes. They thought that salvation can be obtained by observing the law. They found it unfair When they saw that the worst sinners could also be saved. Let us not fall into the same trap. Who would not need compassion when we come face to face with God?

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