Study of the Readings
ed. by
Joyce Ann Zimmerman,
et al
• Words, Phrases
• To the point
• First Two Readings
• Experience
John Kavanaugh, SJ
When hearing the story of the Prodigal Son, we often think of the compassionate father waiting at the gate, or the desperate son planning his confession in advance. But might there not be an elder child in all of us?
John J. Pilch
The Prodigal Son acts shamefully, effectively wishing his father were dead. That the father did not explode and discipline him on the spot testifies to the depth of his love.
For when words would not convince us, God often leaves us to learn from the things that happen to us.
Dennis
Hamm, SJ
The Ministry of Recon-ciliation
We find that the famous “Prodigal Son” story comes as the climax in a series of three, all in the same setting. Familiar as it is, the parable is full of surprises if we take it slowly, attending to the details.
Reginald H. Fuller
Jesus enters the deepest consequences of human sin—our alienation from God.