March 27, 2022 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This week discuss the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and discover that it might easily be known as the Parable of the Prodigal Father, because the Father extends his compassion rather “recklessly” to both the prodigal son and the elder brother. We discuss how this parable was used in the time of the Reformation, looking especially at an article by Barbara Haeger on woodcuts by Cornelius Anthonisz, both of which illustrate Reformed themes: the danger of superstition and the marks of the true church. We conclude by discussing why Luke chose to include this parable in his Gospel, and what that means for us.