"The Return of the Prodigal Son", by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, c. 1669 This Sunday’s Gospel evokes deep human emotions, which Rembrandt famously depicted in his painting The Return of the ...

In the background of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is the life of the patriarch Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. There can be no doubt that Jesus intended us to compare the ...

Sunday, Sept. 11, is the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 or Luke 15:1-10. The Parable of the Prodigal ...

Last week, as I was watching the Oscars, I was thrilled to see Brie Larson take home the award for best actress for her role depicting a kidnapped woman in the film Room. You might not have seen it ...

There are many stories throughout the Scriptures that teach us what happens when families fight. In fact, it could be argued that that is what a good majority of the book of Genesis is all about. From ...

Let’s begin with a quick recap of this famous parable, whose name varies with the emphasis—the parable of the prodigal son, the parable of the two brothers, the parable of the loving father. This is ...

It is no exaggeration when scholars say that the parable of the prodigal son is a priceless gem. It is not a simple simile with just one theme. It’s a cross-section of life with all its complexity. It ...

From the first pages of Scripture to this very moment, Christians have struggled to remain faithful to God and turn away from enticing sin. It’s just a sobering fact of living in a fallen world: the ...

Sin, repentance, and forgiveness all play out in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the most illustrated biblical parable in Western art. In 17th-century Spain, single biblical scenes, such as the ...

“‘Two Sons’ is a parable Jesus told and it’s one I’ve never forgotten,” Beth Whitney told American Songwriter. Found in the gospel of Luke, the parable—better known as the “Prodigal Son”—teaches about ...

Today’s Gospel reading contains one of the most beloved passages in the New Testament. The parable traditionally known as the story of the prodigal son appears only in Luke’s Gospel. Although Luke may ...

The return of my particular beloved prodigal—my youngest son, absent for some time—brings me feelings of gratitude and relief even as I recognize that he will soon be on the road again, and indeed he ...