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24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.Luke 15:24. Jesus, still speaking to the crowd of sinners, tells the story of the prodigal son. The word prodigal means someone who is foolish and squanders money, wasteful. The younger son asks his father for his inheritance, and after receiving it, spends it quickly and has to take a job to survive. But the employer is harsh and barely feeds him. The word says he came to himself, he woke up spiritually, and sees he has made many bad choices. The pigs he was feeding ate better than him. He returns to his father, who has been looking for him to return each day. The father, seeing him, runs to him. The son says he has sinned against heaven and is no longer worthy to be called his son, asking for a job as a servant. The father calls for them to bring the son a robe and shoes. The robe is like Christ's covering our sins; servants went barefoot, sons wore shoes, showing how God's forgiveness and pardon bring total restoration. God Almighty does not keep track of sin that has been paid for in His Son's blood. God forgives and restores our relationship and dignity, covering our past and receiving us as His children. Amen.