Brothers' Bread Episode 30: Rejoice!

<p>“Our capacity to remain good and faithful to God is God’s favor for us.” - Br. Jimmy Dalumpines FSC</p> <p><strong>Fourth Sunday of Lent <br> Reading from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32</strong></p> <p>Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,<br> but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,<br> “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”<br> So to them Jesus addressed this parable:<br> “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,<br> ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’<br> So the father divided the property between them.<br> After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings<br> and set off to a distant country<br> where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.<br> When he had freely spent everything,<br> a severe famine struck that country,<br> and he found himself in dire need.<br> So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens<br> who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.<br> And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,<br> but nobody gave him any.<br> Coming to his senses he thought,<br> ‘How many of my father’s hired workers<br> have more than enough food to eat,<br> but here am I, dying from hunger.<br> I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,<br> “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.<br> I no longer deserve to be called your son;<br> treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’<br> So he got up and went back to his father.<br> While he was still a long way off,<br> his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.<br> He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.<br> His son said to him,<br> ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;<br> I no longer deserve to be called your son.’<br> But his father ordered his servants,<br> ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;<br> put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.<br> Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.<br> Then let us celebrate w