GOP Gospel: The Prodigal Son

Day 24 of my Lent project. For background, please read this.

A reading from the Gospel according to the GOP:

Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all that he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare; surely as his beloved son I am entitled to that and then some! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have learned the error of my ways, but I know that family is precious and that love conquers all. Take me back to your bosom and I promise I will be a faithful son evermore.' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with indignation, and he strode out to meet him outside the gates of the property. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have learned the error of my ways; take me back to your bosom and I promise I will be a faithful son evermore.' But the father reprimanded him, 'You take my money and my property and you squander it on dissolute living, then defile yourself amongst swine, and you have the gall to come back here and beg my forgiveness? Am I to throw good money after bad? How long am I supposed to feed and clothe you while you take advantage of my house and resources? You have made your bed and now you must lie in it; if you are genuine in your desire to be reconciled, then you will prove it by working as one of my hired hands until you have made back the money you have lost. I will welcome you back to the bosom of the family when I decide you have regained your righteousness, and no sooner.' And so the son worked for him for many years, and saw his elder brother prosper in following the way set out by their father, while he worked with the hired hands. Eventually the father died, but the younger son had not yet paid off his debt, and so had to work for his brother, who was an even harder master. Every day he regretted ruining his life with poor decisions, and wished he could tell his younger self not to do it."

( Luke 15:11-32 )