Luke 15:11-32
“He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your property that falls to me.’ He divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all he had and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. When he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’ He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.”
This parable, often called 'The Parable of the Lost Son' or 'The Prodigal Son,' is one of three 'lost and found' parables Jesus tells in Luke 15. He tells them to a mixed crowd including tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees, in response to the Pharisees' grumbling that he welcomes sinners and eats with them. It illustrates God's overflowing compassion and joy over the return of those who have strayed.
What does this story suggest about the nature of restoration after causing harm?