THE FORGIVING FATHERPRODIGAL SON- 5 STEPS

The Forgiving Father

A man had 2 sons. One day, the younger son said to his father:

“Let me have the money you said you would give me. I want to have it not.”

So his father divide the money between his 2 sons. A few day later, the younger son packed up all his tings,

took his money and left home. He thought, “I want to be on my own:

I want to be independent. I can take care of myself now. I want to live the way I

want!”

The Son left his Family

He left his family; All he wanted was fun and more fun. He bought expensive clothes He gave many parties.

He liked that men and women were around him, praising him, and thanking him for the gifts he gave them. So he had many friends.

He didn’t work. After a while, he realized that he had very little money left! But he kept spending. And he still didn’t want to work.

His Friends Left him Alone

One day, all his money was gone! None of his friends came near him any more.. He was

all alone.. That year, there was not much food in the

country. He tried to ask for help but no one would give him any

help. He was hungry.

Finally, a farmer hired him, “You can feed my pigs and live in my barn!” he said,

He was so hungry that he didn’t even mind eating the food of the pigs!S

He thought about His Father Goodness

Then he thought, “My father’s servants get all the food they want… and I am his son, hungry and poor.. dying of huger! I will leave this

horrible place, I will go to my father and I will tell him: “Dad, I am sorry for

what I did.. I don’t even deserve to be called your son.. Just take me back and treat me as one of your

servants.” So he got up and walked all the way home.

He was worry…

On the way, he was worried: a) what would his father say?b) Would he hire him as a servant? c) How could he ever forgive him?

He didn’t know that after he left home, that his father would go out to the cross road every day, looking for him…

…hopping that he would come back..

He was Worry

So when the Father saw his son approaching, still a long way off, tear of joy filled his eyes,

He ran to the boy, hugged him and kissed him with love.

His son said sad, “I have sinned. I hurt you. I no longer deserve to be called

your son…” But his Dad was so happy; he loved his son!

He asked his servants to get his son dressed in fine clothes, put shoes on his feet

and prepare a great feast and celebration!

The Oldest Brother

The oldest son was working in the fields. As he was coming back that day, he heard the

music, the laughter: he saw the great party. He asked the servants what it was all about. When he head about his brother, he was not

happy.

His Brother Don’t Understand His Father’s Love

He was angry and jealous! He told his father: “All these years I have worked for you so hard.. And you never

game me a party! Look at your son: he spent all the money you gave him!”

The father said, “You are always with me, You know that all I have is yours. But your brother was dead and he has come back to life? He was lost and now he is found!”

The younger son was happy be at home. He worked very hard to make up for lost time!

Jesus told the Story of a Loving Father This is the story that Jesus told to

people, when some of them thought that it was

not right for Jesus to be friends with sinners!

Who are the important people in this story?

1. The Son who left home, hurt himself, his father and his brother?

2. The older brother who was good all his life, but jealous of his brother?

THE FORGIVING FATHER STORY

This is THE FORGIVING FATHER’S STORY who loves both his sons,

Jesus was really telling about Our Heavenly Father who is anxious to forgive… He is waiting for us to come back.

Most of us never ran away from home, or didn’t hurt our family like the younger son did

But we all “leave” our Heavenly Father and hurt His children who are our brothers and sisters,

when we think of our own selves only, when we commit sins.

Jesus wants us to Come Back

Think for a minute, have you ever felt alone and sad, after you hurt someone?

a) After you told a lies? b) After you took something that didn’t belong to you? c) After you didn’t pray, or go to church for a long time?d) After you put someone down?e) After hurting others?f) After judging your parents?

Jesus wants each of us to find our way back home to Him. How?

The Son Went Back to His Father

Let us remember how the younger son went back to his Father.1. He thought about the mistake he made, the

wrong he has done.2. He was sorry3. He make up his mind not to sin again.4. He went back and told his father and told him

that he was sorry.5. He did his best to make up for what he did wrong.

Forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance

Jesus told his Apostle, “Whose sins you will forgive will be forgiven.” He told us, how much the Father loves us; he is ready to forgive us every time we ask!

He gives us the chance to be forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance, or Confession,

HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION How do we prepare?

1. Think about your sins2. Tell Jesus that you are sorry.3. Make up your mind to try not to sin again4. Tell your sins to Jesus through the Priest5. Do the penance (to make up) that the Priest gives

you. If you go to confession but don’t pray, you

are asking a stranger to forgive you If you pray but don’t go to confession, you

are taking a friend for granted.s