The answer is: Pig feeder

Luke 15

The story of the Prodigal Son is an incredible journey of loss and redemption, illustrating the twists and turns of human life. So, picture this: after squandering his entire fortune on wild living, the young man finds himself in a dire position, feeding pigs. Now, if you're scratching your head, you wouldn't be alone! For a Jewish listener in Jesus’ time, pigs were deemed unclean animals. This choice of job emphasizes just how far he had fallen from his former life—literally feeding the very animals that his community would have considered the lowest of the low.

Let’s take the timeline up a notch! Did you know that in Jewish culture, money often symbolizes not just wealth but family honor and legacy? So, when the Prodigal Son blew his father's fortune, he also tarnished his kin's reputation. Feeding pigs, then, is a punch in the gut for him and his family.

But here's the gold nugget: when he returns home, it isn’t to grovel in shame but rather to be welcomed back with open arms. This touching reunion showcases deep themes of forgiveness and grace. This parable, along with others in the Gospel of Luke, is particularly focused on marginalized figures, displaying that everyone's story, no matter how much they waver, holds intrinsic value and the possibility of redemption. Isn’t it wild to realize that in Biblical times, people struggled with many of the same questions of identity and belonging that we do today? Exciting stuff!