I want to begin with words from the end of last Sunday’s gospel. Jesus was teaching “the great multitudes”[1] who were following him. As his teaching approaches its conclusion he says, “Whoever ... does not renounce all that he or she has cannot be my disciple.”[2] Who continues to follow him? “Tax collectors and sinners,”[3] along with Pharisees and scribes, whom Luke the evangelist sees as Jesus’ enemies—not only in this gospel but also in Luke’s second book, The Acts of the Apostles.[4] Jesus continues to reach out to all of them, persons separated from God in one way or another.[5] Then follow three parables about the lost and the found, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and lost sons. This last parable, commonly called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, you may recall, is really about two sons, one who finds his way home and one who is angry at his father for celebrating his brother’s return.
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