Resources for reading the Parable of the Lost Son (Prodigal Son) Luke 15:11-32

Herd of sheep, Syria.  By Aristock.  Used subject to license.

The Oblate novice class should continue reading the Rule of Saint Benedict, but we should also read the Parable of the Lost Son (Prodigal Son) for the next class.  We are to especially focus on the elder son.

Here are study resources for the parable.  These are personal notes -- not from the Prior.  If you have any other resources, please post them in a comment to this blog.

BIBLE VERSIONS OF THE PARABLE Luke 15:11-32

Haydock’s Douay-Rheims with extensive commentary

Revised Standard Version at BibleGateway.com

New American Bible at Vatican website. With concordance links. 

COMMENTARY AND NOTES

From Saint Vincent Archabbey
   
From Christ in the Desert

CHURCH FATHERS

"For it were not seemly that we, after the fashion of the rich man's son in the Gospel, Luke 15:11 should, as prodigals, abuse the Father's gifts; but we should use them, without undue attachment to them, as having command over ourselves. For we are enjoined to reign and rule over meats, not to be slaves to them. It is an admirable thing, therefore, to raise our eyes aloft to what is true, to depend on that divine food above, and to satiate ourselves with the exhaustless contemplation of that which truly exists, and so taste of the only sure and pure delight." Source at New Advent, Clement of Alexandria.

IN THE LITURGICAL CYCLE IN THE EAST

Septuagesima

(Latin septuagesima, the seventieth).

"Septuagesima is the ninth Sunday before Easter, the third before Lent known among the Greeks as "Sunday of the Prodigal" from the Gospel, Luke 15, which they read on this day." From New Advent on Septuagesima