Sermon: March 30, 2025 (Year C: Fourth Sunday in Lent) Time: 13 mins and 3 secs

Preached from PJ's office on April 8, 2025 Preaching Text: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The parable of the forgiving father 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 15:3 So, he told them this parable: 15:11b "There was a man who had two sons. 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them. 15:13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living. 15:14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need. 15:15 So, he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 15:16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. 15:17 But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' 15:20 So, he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 15:21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, 15:24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 15:26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 15:27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.' 15:28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 15:29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 15:31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 15:32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"