The evangelist Luke was a very gifted storyteller. He was the only one of the four gospel writers to relate the parables both of the Prodigal Son and of the Good Samaritan. He also was the only one to give an account of the disciples on the way to Emmaus. He seems to have a special talent for conveying through his characters a loving, all-forgiving God. The God of the Old Testament was often portrayed as distant, enthroned in majesty and quick to punish wrongdoing. Much of what was attributed to God was probably natural calamities, seen as divine vengeance.
Today’s gospel needs to be seen against the background of the Jewish society in the time of Jesus. Its leaders, the scribes, pharisees and priests, had set themselves up as models of perfection, rejecting all those whom they considered sinners. The two brothers in the story are representatives of these two groups. The elder brother, like the pharisee in the temple (Lk. 19:9-14), was very pleased with himself. He had done everything he was supposed to do. He could not accept the fact that his father loved his wayward brother as much as himself. The younger brother, on the other hand, had come to realise that he was a sinner. He was still more concerned about the destitution he had brought upon himself than that he had deeply hurt his father. That father, however, was only too eager to forgive him and celebrate his return.
This picture of the father who is looking out for his son every day and who organises a banquet to welcome him back, must have been shocking to the self-satisfied leaders. They could not understand how Jesus rejoiced in the company of sinners. He, however, saw their potential and his love for them helped them to achieve it.