The Prodigal Son Returns

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A son asked his father for his share of the inheritance and went to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth. He was forced to take a job, he was a swineherd for a farmer, and he longed for home. When he returned home, his father went out and greeted his son with a kiss. (A kiss = a sign of forgiveness). The son repentantly said to his father, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." However, the father immediately sent his servants to bring his returning son a beautiful robe, a ring, and sandals as a gift, and in his joy he even made a feast for him. At that moment, the older brother arrived exhausted and saw the great commotion around the prodigal brother. He was angry, and when his father asked him, he said to him, "These many years I have served you and obeyed your commands, and you never gave me so much as a goat to celebrate with my friends." The father replied, "Son, you are always with me... but we had to celebrate because your younger brother has died and has just come home."