The most powerful of parables that illustrates the theme of forgiveness is the parable of the prodigal son.
LK 15:11-32 "Jesus went on to say, `There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, "Father, give me my share of the property now." So the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living. He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing. So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs are, but no one gave him anything to eat. At last he came to his senses and said, "All my father;s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I will get up and go to my father and say, `Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.'" So he got up and started back to his father. He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son and kissed him. "Father," the son said, "I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son." But the father called to his servants, :Hurry!" he said. "Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!..." And so the feasting began....The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. But he spoke back to his father, "Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this son of yous wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!" "My son," the father answered, "you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found."'"
Comment: There are a number of elements in this parable to which attention should be called. First, the youngest son makes the father liquidate all his assets because the youngest son wants his inheritance now and not later. In brief, he ruins his father. Second, the youngest son goes off and after spending all the money he ends up feeding pigs and wanting to eat the slop which the pigs eat. Now, one must think Jewish: pigs make one unclean. This job that the youngest son has is the lowest of the lowest. Third, notice the joy of the father: he is so happy to have his son back that he does something that is almost foolish: throw him a big party. Fourth, what do you think of the attitude of the older brother? Does he not, from a certain point of view, have a legitimate complaint?