There was a man who had two sons… And he said to him [his elder son] ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’
Jesus of Nazareth
Parable of the Prodigal Son
Topic: Love, Compassion, & Kindness
And Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and now is found.’ And they began to make merry.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of his servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Jesus of Nazareth is a cornerstone of spiritual thought, a figure whose influence transcends the boundaries of religious affiliation. Born around 4 BCE in Bethlehem, he is primarily known as the foundational figure of Christianity but also holds a significant role in Islam as a prophet. His life journey, from his humble birth to his baptism by John the Baptist, was marked by a public ministry that centered around themes of love, compassion, forgiveness, and justice. These teachings were accompanied by miraculous events, garnering a community of followers and disciples. His message aimed to shake the foundations of existing religious practices that were rigid and exclusive, offering instead a path rooted in compassion and inclusivity.
The Universal Christ concept enriches our understanding of who Jesus was and is. Especially emphasized in Franciscan traditions and mystical Christianity, this idea posits Jesus as a unique but not isolated manifestation of God's ongoing presence and action in the world. Through this lens, Jesus isn't just a figure confined to a particular time and space; he becomes an enduring representation of divine love and compassion. He serves as a window through which we can understand how God interacts with the world, offering a model for a potential divine-human union that respects the dignity and sacredness of all life forms.
In harmonizing these perspectives, we recognize Jesus both as a historical figure and as a transcendent representation of divine compassion. Whether viewed through the lens of traditional faith narratives or the broader scope of the Universal Christ, Jesus emerges as a teacher who calls us to enact love and compassion in our lives. His teachings, whether seen as divine or profoundly humane, offer a framework for community and interconnectedness that continues to be relevant across different cultures and religious beliefs. In a world often fractured by division and lack of understanding, the multi-faceted legacy of Jesus offers a timeless lesson in the transformative power of compassion.
The Gospel of Luke
Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture - a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, pp. 362-363 [Luke 15.11-32: Parable of the Prodigal Son].
Jesus of Nazareth
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Luke 15.11-32: Parable of the Prodigal Son
Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son speaks not only of God’s grace and forgiveness (represented by the father), but also of the ethic that righteousness (represented by the elder brother) be accompanied by forgiveness and compassion for sinners (the younger brother).
–World Scripture – a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, pp. 362-363.