Visio Divina

1. To where is your eye immediately drawn? And then where does your eye roam? 
 

2. Draw yourself back to the embrace of the father and the son. What emotions do you see in these two?
 

3. Look at the rest of the scene. Look at the reactions of the others in the room. Observe the older brother. What do you envision his emotions to be in this moment?
 

4. Looking at the three main characters of the parable, how do you feel about each one of them? Does one speak to you more than the others? Reflect on this. Is there a reason why? 
 

5. What elements of the piece stand out to you? Here are some to consider: the hands of the father, the feet of the son, the son’s head resting against the father’s heart, the face of the father. Reflect on those that strike you. 
 

6. Now take the time to read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32). Look back at the image and reflect what has been illustrated to you in a new way through this time of prayer and meditation. 
 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) (NABRE)

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,

because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.

He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.

But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’