(a) Narrate the parable of the prodigal son.
(b) State how the action of the father illustrates the nature of God.
Explanation
(a) Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son to his disciples. He said, a man had two sons. The younger of the two sons asked his father to give him his share of the property. The father consented to his request and divided his property into two and gave the boy his own share. The younger brother took what was given to him and went to a far country where he squandered his belongings. There after famine broke out in that city and the boy became wanting. He hired himself out to a land owner to look after his swines. He found it even difficult to eat, so he sought to eat out of the food given to the pigs but to no avail. He thought of his plight and wondered how many of his father's servants had enough bread to eat, while he was there perishing with hunger. At this point, he decided to go back to his father and beg him to take him as one of his labourers and not as a son. He finally left for home.
As he was approaching home, his father saw him far off. He had mercy on him, embraced him and kissed him. He commanded his servants to bath him , give him the best cloth and put a ring on his hand. He also directed that a fattened calf be killed to celebrate, for this son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. His elder brother who was not at home when this took place came in later. He heard what was going on and enquired from one of the servants what was happening. He was told that his younger brother had come back and their father had killed a fatted calf for merry-making. For this reason, he was angry and he refused to go in. But when his father saw him, he begged him not to mind.
The son said for many years he had served his father, he had never disobeyed his command; still his father had never given him a kid that he might make merry with his friends, "but this son of yours, who had squandered your property you had killed the most fattend calf for him". His father replied him that he had always been with him and all he had was his.
(b) The action of the father illustrates the nature of God in the following ways:
(i) God is always ready to forgive any sinner that repents of his sin, just like the father forgave his younger son.
(ii) Self - righteousness does not justify condemnation of sinners.
(iii) God's saving love is expended for both the sinners and the self-righteous.
