Repentance & Conversion

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

—Mark 8:36

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son (also known as the parable of the Two Brothers, Lost Son, Loving Father, or of the Forgiving Father; Greek: Παραβολή του Ασώτου Υιού, romanized: Parabolē tou Asōtou Huiou)[1][2] is one of the parables of Jesus in the Bible, appearing in Luke 15:11–32.[i] In Luke 15, Jesus tells this story, along with those of a man with 100 sheep and a woman with ten coins, to a group of Pharisees and religious leaders who criticized him for welcoming and eating with tax collectors and others seen as sinners.

The Prodigal Son is the third and final parable of a cycle on redemption, following the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. In the Revised Common Lectionary and Roman Rite Catholic Lectionary, this parable is read on the fourth Sunday of Lent (in Year C);[3] in the latter it is also included in the long form of the Gospel on the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time in Year C, along with the preceding two parables of the cycle.[4] In the Eastern Orthodox Church it is read on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.

The parable begins with a wealthy man who has two sons, the younger of whom asks for his share of the man's estate. The implication is that the son did not want to wait for his father's death to receive his inheritance but instead wanted it immediately. The father agrees and divides his estate between the two sons.

Upon receiving his portion of the inheritance, the younger son travels to a distant country, where he squanders his wealth through reckless living. He runs out of money just before a severe famine strikes the land, leaving him desperately poor and forced to take a filthy and low-paying job as a swineherd. He reaches the point of envying the food of the pigs he is feeding. At this time, he finally comes to his senses:[ii]

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

— Luke 15:17–20, KJV

This implies that the father was watching hopefully for the son's return. The son starts his rehearsed speech, admitting his sins, and declaring himself unworthy of being his father's son but does not even finish before his father accepts him back without hesitation.[5] The father calls for his servants to dress the son in the finest robe and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet and to slaughter the "fatted calf" for a celebratory meal.

The older son, who was at work in the fields, hears the sound of celebration and is told by a slave about the return of his younger brother. He is not impressed and becomes angry. He also has a speech for his father:[iii]

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

— Luke 15:29–30, KJV

The parable stops with the father explaining that while the older son has always been present and that everything the father owns also belongs to the older son, because the younger son had returned, in a sense, from the dead, celebration was necessary:[iv]

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

— Luke 15:32, KJV

Sunset over a calm ocean, gentle waves rolling onto sandy beach with footprints, distant shoreline, and rocks.
Silhouette of a person walking on a sandy beach shaded by palm trees, with water and distant sailboats in the background.
View of a beach through palm trees with a boat on the sand near the water.
A white feather resting on light beige sand with some footprints and small rocks.
Close-up of a weathered wooden post with a white rope tied around it, on sandy ground with small rocks and dry twigs.
A small boat resting on sandy ground among palm trees and tropical vegetation.
People enjoying a sunny day at the beach, with children playing and adults relaxing near the shoreline, boats on the water, and distant buildings visible.
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A sandy beach with a few people, colorful umbrellas, umbrellas, and trees, with buildings visible in the distance across the ocean.
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Beach scene with rocks covered in green moss and gentle waves lapping the sandy shore.
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View of a sandy beach with two small boats resting on the sand, two tall palm trees between the boats, and a person walking along the shoreline in the distance, with calm ocean water and a clear sky in the background.
A sandy beach with a green paddleboard lying on the sand, surrounded by numerous palm trees under a clear blue sky.
Tropical scene with palm trees and lush green foliage, with buildings visible in the background.
Beach scene with palm trees, sandy shore, and ocean in the background.
A sandy beach path lined with palm trees on both sides, with two people walking in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A sailboat resting on sandy beach near palm trees with other boats in the background.
A beach scene with palm trees, two boats on the sand, calm ocean water, and a person taking a photo in the distance.
A person riding a motorized scooter with fishing poles on a sandy beach, with a city skyline and mountains in the background under a clear sky.
Silhouettes of people on a beach at sunset with the ocean and islands in the background.
Sunset over the ocean with small waves and a few boats in the distance.
Sunset over the ocean with calm waves, a sandy beach in the foreground, and distant islands and boats on the horizon.
Sunset over the ocean with small waves hitting the shore and boats floating in the distance
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Sunset over the ocean with clouds partially blocking the sunlight and a reflection on the water, with silhouettes of trees and bushes in the foreground.
Sunset in Tomsk
Large white statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva with a gold halo and a scroll, surrounded by a crowd of visitors walking towards a temple entrance on a bright day.
Pile of large gray concrete blocks with Chinese inscriptions, near a body of water with a pink boat in the distance.
A tall white statue of a religious figure standing on a decorated base with a blue sky in the background.
A large white sculpture resembling a hand with fingers together, overlooking a garden of potted green plants, with tall trees and a clear blue sky in the background, and a group of people walking nearby.
A carved stone relief depicting a seated Buddha surrounded by six monks or disciples, under a large tree with detailed leaves and clouds in the background.
Osaka Flower
Green Leaves
Night Building
FamilyMart in Japan
Torii
A traditional Asian temple with red wooden beams and ornate roof tiles, next to a stone sculpture of a dragon with intricate carvings, set against a clear blue sky.
Osaka 2
A pink multi-story building with a sloped roof, small windows, and surrounded by green trees against a blue sky.
Osaka 1
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Nagoya 1
Cold Building
Shibuya
Orange and yellow flowers growing inside a glass-enclosed urban balcony or greenhouse with city buildings in the background.
Map on the Mountain
Hangzhou
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Red Bicycle
Coffee Shop
On the Street in Shanghai
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Sofa without People
One Night in Tokyo
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Art sculpture of a head carved into a wood log with black sticks protruding from it, displayed on a wooden surface.
Yellow flowers blooming amidst green grass.
A sunset sky with pink and purple clouds, silhouetted trees, streetlights, and a road sign in the foreground.
Sunset sky with orange and purple clouds, silhouetted trees, and a tall streetlight.
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A view of a two-lane road with a double solid line down the middle, curving to the right. The road is bordered by grassy shoulders and leafless trees, with a cloudy, overcast sky overhead.
Snow pile on dark pavement in front of a building with large windows and a white exterior, with metal railing in the foreground.
Small decorated Christmas tree near a window with a red vehicle visible outside.
Close-up of a hand holding a white door hanger with a red glitter heart sticker, hanging on a doorknob with a key in the lock.
A person with bleached blonde, messy hairstyle wearing glasses and a black shirt, standing against a plain light-colored wall.
Traditional Asian temple with curved, ornate rooftops, set against a clear blue sky with a yellow autumn tree on the left.
Colorful hanging lanterns resembling flowers and leaves in warm tones of orange, yellow, and some blue and purple shades, illuminating the ceiling of an indoor space.
Night view of a modern building with a sign that reads 'THE MIX-PLACE' and display of large orange and white emoji faces with various expressions in a glass case at the entrance.
View of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai framed by dark city buildings and street scene with pedestrians and cars.
Cityscape view from a high balcony showing waterway, boats, residential buildings with red roofs, and trees, with a distant bridge and construction crane.
View through a window with sheer curtains and leaf-shaped decorations, showing a high-rise apartment building outside on a clear day.
A poster commemorating the 100th anniversary of Ozamu Tezuka featuring a black-and-white photograph of a man and woman standing outdoors, with Japanese text and event details below.
A hotel room showing a bed with white sheets, a nightstand with a pillow and lamp, a window with sheer curtains, and a part of a chair with a black backrest.
View of a cloudy sunset sky through a window, with dark silhouettes of buildings and power lines in the foreground.
Nighttime photo of a McDonald's sign with the iconic yellow arches on a building with a yellowish-orange exterior. There are parking signs, a scooter, and some small bushes in front.
Nighttime city scene with tall buildings, traffic congestion, and illuminated signs.
Sketch of a theatrical or historical scene with multiple figures in classical clothing on steps and street, some gesturing or interacting, with buildings in the background.
People walking and gathering in front of a large white archway monument with a golden statue of two figures on top, under a partly cloudy sky.
Dusk sky with pink and purple hues, parked cars silhouetted in a lot.
Elegant lounge with white upholstered armchairs and sofas, a large window with black curtains, and a hanging light fixture.
Window in Novosibirsk
Close-up of a person's hand adjusting the focus on a camera lens against a bright sky background.
Rocks and concrete blocks along a shoreline with water gently lapping at the edges during sunset.
Decorative snowmen with Santa hats and scarves inside a display window.
Nighttime city scene featuring a large illuminated billboard on a modern building, with streetlights and power lines visible below.
Silence
Yellow flowers in foreground with a red brick Gothic-style church with twin steeples and modern high-rise buildings in the background.
Black and white landscape of a flat open field with a few scattered trees on the horizon under a cloudy sky.
A black-and-white photograph of a calm lake with mountains in the distance, and overhanging leaves of a tree on the right and some bushes on the left.
Person taking a photo of themselves in a mirror with a camera flash, urban background visible.
People sitting and standing along a rocky waterfront, overlooking a large body of water with a bridge and distant city skyline in the background.
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View of a harbor with boats and ships, seen through a window or balcony railing, in black and white.
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A black and white photo of a public square with people walking. A tall building in the background is covered with large banners displaying various images and a clock face. There are outdoor seating areas with umbrellas.
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A black and white photo of a city canal with buildings on the left side, a paved walkway on the right, and a bridge in the distance with a fountain. The sky is cloudy, and a few people are walking along the walkway.
Black and white photo of two people walking hand in hand on a cobblestone street in front of historic Russian architecture, including Kremlin towers and colorful buildings.
A large historic building with a rounded tower, stairs leading to the entrance, and several windows, situated on a street with a few cars and pedestrians, black and white photograph.
A city square with a large fountain featuring multiple water jets in front of a large modern building with tall windows. Several people are walking, sitting, or riding bicycles around the fountain, and pigeons are scattered on the ground.
Black and white photo of a brick building with several posters and windows. Pedestrians walking on the cobblestone street, including a person with a backpack and a security guard standing near the entrance.
Black and white billboard with Russian text and symbols, celebrating Victory Day on May 9th, in a cityscape with tall buildings and trees.
Black and white photo of a multi-story residential building with external fire escape stairs on the side.
Black and white cityscape featuring a rooftop with graffiti, modern buildings, and cloudy sky.
A black and white photograph of a street corner with a small park in the background, featuring trees, a building, street signs including a pedestrian crossing sign and no entry sign, and three children walking in the park.
A black and white photo of a sidewalk and street near a park. There are four children walking on the grass, trees, street signs including a pedestrian crossing sign, and a building in the background.
Black and white photo of a person holding a vintage film camera with a large lens, viewed from above, with film strips visible through the camera's viewfinder.
Black and white photo of a city street viewed from a high-rise building window. Shows parked cars, pedestrians walking, and multi-story apartment buildings on either side of the street.
Black and white photo of pens, notebooks, and a folder on a patterned surface.
Black and white photo of a living room with a white armchair and matching ottoman in front of a wallpapered wall, and a painting of elephants walking at sunset hanging above.
View through a small hole revealing a circle of falling leaves and a window in the background.
Entrance to Central Park in Russia, with classical architectural gates, people walking, and trees in the background.
Black and white photo of large stone columns in a row, forming a corridor, with a building visible in the distance.
Black and white photo of a high-rise apartment building with multiple stories, surrounded by trees and parked cars at the bottom.
A black and white photo of a parking area with several cars, a parking sign, and a building with the Russian word 'Новосибирск' (Novosibirsk) in the background.
Black and white photo of a train on tracks, with smoke emitting from the engine, set in an urban area with city buildings in the background.
A black and white photo of a rural road extending into the distance with streetlights on its sides, utility poles, and a few small buildings and cars along the roadside.
City street scene with old brick buildings, pedestrians, bicycles, and overhead electrical wires, under an overcast sky.
A boat sailing on a river in a city with historic buildings and church domes under a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo of the Moscow skyline with the Kremlin, river, and city buildings in the background.
Black and white photo of an urban scene with a decorative gate in the foreground, buildings in the background, and a church with onion domes in the distance under a cloudy sky.
Sunset view over a wide river with a boat, silhouetted trees, and a distant cityscape under a gradient sky transitioning from orange near the horizon to dark blue.
Urban city street scene with tall buildings, sidewalks, street lamps, pedestrians, and cars under a partly cloudy sky.
A table setting with a plate of dessert, a cup of coffee with a spoon, a bottle of water, and salt and pepper shakers.
A large, red-brick Gothic-style church with multiple pointed spires and large stained glass windows, surrounded by trees and city buildings in the background.
A young polar bear standing on a concrete ledge beside a pool of water in a zoo enclosure, with rocks, ice, and scattered objects in the background.
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A dog in a burnt yard with a blackened ground, surrounded by a wooden fence, with leafless trees and buildings in the background.
A city street scene in black and white showing cars parked along the right side of the street, with street and traffic lights, overcast sky, and buildings on both sides, including a tall building in the distance.
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Black and white photo of a large apartment building with multiple windows, some of which have lights on, under an overcast sky at dusk.
Black and white photo of a large, illuminated Christmas tree decoration with strings of lights, shaped like a cone, topped with a star, outdoors at night.
A large historic building with a prominent central arch and multiple windows, located in an open square. There are street lamps, pigeons, and a woman walking with a bag in the foreground. The building has Russian signs on the roof.
A black and white photo of a sidewalk alongside a road with three people walking, trees behind them, and a tall building in the background.
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Black and white photo of flat farmland with power lines and transmission towers, taken from a vehicle on the highway.
A black and white photo of a landscape seen from a moving vehicle, with a forest of tall trees and a cloudy sky in the background, and a guardrail in the foreground.
A person's foot in a shoe standing on a floor covered with small mosaic tiles, with part of a metal panel and a ventilation grill visible at the top left of the image.
Black and white photograph of a man and woman sitting against a brick wall; the man is playing guitar, and both are looking at the camera. There is Russian text above and below the photo.
City street with modern glass buildings on both sides and a traditional Orthodox church with golden domes in the background.
Colorful religious frescoes painted on the ceiling inside an Orthodox Christian church, including images of saints and biblical scenes with Greek inscriptions.
City skyline with tall modern skyscrapers seen from a park with trees in the foreground
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A black ceramic mug filled with hot coffee on a wooden surface.
Traditional Chinese temple with ornate rooftops and golden decorations set against modern high-rise buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
City skyline with various modern and historic buildings, including a construction crane, seen from a balcony with rooftop plants in the foreground.
A man smiling and holding a young girl in his arms, and a young boy smiling and interacting with the girl, outdoors in front of a city skyline with water and high-rise buildings.
View of the Shanghai skyline with tall skyscrapers, including the Shanghai Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center, with people in the foreground near a river.
Three UNO game cards with the UNO logo on a wooden surface.
A single orange flower with green and yellow striped leaves in front of a body of water.
Black and white photo of a subway station with a train arriving and people waiting on the platform. An upper level with few people walking and a large ornate ceiling light.
A black and white photo of a refrigerated display case with bottled sodas on the bottom shelf and slices of cake and other desserts on the middle shelf.
Nighttime city scene with a glowing star-shaped light decoration hanging between buildings.
Nighttime city street seen through a rain-covered window, with blurred yellow and red lights reflecting on wet pavement.
City street with cars, streetlights, and a monument, with high-rise buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
Miniature Christmas snow globe with Santa Claus and a Christmas tree inside, decorated with snow and a red base with Christmas trees.
City street scene with parked cars, leafless trees, and multi-story apartment buildings, including a pink building in the center, on an overcast day.
A wooden bookshelf with various books and a black Nikon camera resting on a closed book. Part of a white curtain is visible on the left side of the image.
A vintage large format camera with a wooden body and black bellows on a wooden tripod stand indoors.
An amusement park at night decorated with colorful lights and flags, featuring a Christmas tree, a carousel, and a grand historic building outlined in bright white lights.
Interior of a modern art museum with seating area, digital displays, and artwork on the walls.
Yellow and white train station building with blue roofs and a large clock, overcast sky, wet street, and cars parked in front.
City street scene with cars parked along the curb, a white multi-story building in the background, trees lining the street, overcast sky, city traffic, and a sign on the building reading 'TOMSK' in English and Russian.
Close-up of window blinds, partly open, with some sunlight filtering through.
Scenic view of a rural landscape with green fields, scattered trees, a cloudy sky, and a highway guardrail in the foreground.
Green fields and a sky with clouds, viewed from a moving vehicle with empty road signs in the foreground.

He returns to life itself—free from past attachments and expectations, only himself and the morning light with each dawn. He feels the weight of life, yet also senses his breath and heartbeat. Every small movement reminds him: he is still alive, still has a chance. Pedestrians pass swiftly by; the city’s clamor flows like water, washing through his thoughts—but he has learned to stand still within the current.

He sees his past mistakes, hesitation, and flight—missed opportunities, lost directions, emotions he refused to face—all lingering behind him like shadows. He knows denial only makes the shadows heavier; blame only weighs down the soul. So he begins to forgive—forgiving himself, forgiving his former weakness, even forgiving those who once hurt him. He understands forgiveness is not ignoring truth—it is acknowledging it, accepting it, so that the past no longer chains him but nourishes his forward journey.

With every breath, he practices forgiveness. It is not forgetting—but choosing not to be bound by resentment. He sets down anger and pain as gently as placing a clenched stone into a river—the water carries it away. The wind brushes his face; he closes his eyes, feeling warmth and moisture in the air—as if the world whispers softly : everything can begin again.

He also begins to change—but not through sudden miracles. Change comes in small choices, in quiet persistence. He practices patience in daily routines; focus at work; kindness in life. He learns to face fear instead of fleeing; admit imperfection without self-condemnation; reconcile with himself instead of resisting. Each shift is a quiet declaration: I can still become more real, more gentle.

He discovers that a smile holds strength—and a reminder. When he smiles at himself in the mirror—not to hide wounds but to acknowledge that life remains warm, that hope endures—he finds meaning in it. On city streets he smiles at strangers; their returning glances give him faith: kindness still lives deep within hearts—and so too can he offer kindness back into the world. A smile is not empty expression—it is affirmation of self and life—a quiet courage.

He learns to feel life’s weight in silence—and its lightness through action. The scent of morning coffee, flowers blooming by the roadside, sunlight on the windowsill—all remind him: even when life doesn’t go as wished—he can still choose tenderness and kindness. He begins writing down thoughts, feelings, plans—recording every confusion, anxiety, hope—so he may see traces of growth.

He realizes forgiveness, pardon, change and smiling are not one-time tasks—but daily practice. Each fall is not failure but learning; each emotional wave not an obstacle but a signal to meet himself more honestly. Every moment is new—he can choose hope and gentleness—and keep walking forward.

He no longer demands perfection from himself nor expects smooth sailing from life. All he needs is breath each day—choices each day—smiles each day. He believes even if the world remains complex and trials persist—he still holds power to embrace kindness and remain tender-hearted. Forgive yourself so past becomes nourishment; forgive life so pain becomes lesson; change yourself so every now becomes a fresh beginning; smile at the world so hope stays alive within.

In this belief—he walks softly through city streets—not hurriedly but with calm eyes full of gentle resolve. Wind stirs his hair; he smiles—Life is worth living—I still have time—I can live gently, kindly, truly—still today.

Handwritten text stating, "Let it be unpolished and messy and true."

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