MERCY AND FRATERNITY IN THE LIGHT OF LUKE 15,11-32

Abstract

The present article, entitled “Mercy and Fraternity in the Light of Luke 15,11-32”, aims to present to the reader the context in which the biblical narrative of the Parable of the “Merciful Father”, frequently referred to as “the Prodigal Son”, unfolds, embedded in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 15, verses 11 to 32. This parable, recognized as one of the most prominent and extensively studied in the New Testament, encompasses a significant theological density that establishes it as central to the message of the Lucan community and of Christianity. The text under analysis is structured around three core characters: the father, the younger son, and the elder son, each representing distinct dimensions of the relationship between humankind and the divine.