In Luke chapter 15, Jesus told the story of a man who had two sons.  The younger son asked his father to give him his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance.  Once received, the son promptly set off on a long journey to a distant land and began to waste his fortune on wild living.  When his money ran out a severe famine hit the country and the son found himself in dire circumstances.  He took on a job feeding pigs.  He was so destitute that he even longed to eat the food assigned to the pigs. The young man finally came to his senses, remembering his father.  In humility, he recognized his foolishness, decided to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and mercy in hopes he would be allowed back as a servant. The father, who had been watching and waiting, received his son back with open arms of compassion.  He was overjoyed by the return of his lost son.  Immediately the father turned to his servants and asked them to prepare a giant feast in celebration.  The father said "for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life.  He was lost but now is found."