VER. 17—24. ST. LUKE. 530 AUG.Or runningHe fellupon hisneck; becausetheFatherAug.abandonednotHis Only-BegottenSon,inwhom He haseverublsup" beenrunningafterourdistantwanderings.For God was in2Cor.5,ChristreconcilingtheworlduntoHimself. But tofallupon i9' hisneckistolowertoHis embraceHis own Arm, which is theLordJesusChrist.But tobe comfortedby the word of God'sgraceunto the hope of pardonof our sins,thisisto returnaftera longjourneytoobtainfrom a fatherthekissof love.But alreadyplantedin theChurch,he beginstocon fesshissins,nor sayshe allthathe promisedhe would say. Foritfollows,And hissonsaiduntohim,fyc.He wishesthat tobedoneby grace,ofwhichhe confesseshimselfunworthy byanymeritsof hisown. He does not add what he had said,when meditatingbeforehand,Make me as one of thy hiredservants.For when he had not bread,he desired tobe even a hired servant,which afterthe kissof his fatherhe now most nobly disdained.CHRYS. The fatherChrys.doesnot directhis words to his sou,but speaksto his"Cl"'"' steward,for he who repents,prays indeed,but receives no answerin word, yet beholdsmercy effectualin opera tion.For itfollows,But thefathersaiduntohisservants, Bringforththe bestrobe,and put iton him. THEOPHYL. By the servants(orangels)you may understandadminis teringspirits,or priestswho by baptismand the word of teachingclothethe soulwithChristHimself. For as many Gal.3,27. ofus as have beenbaptizedin Christhaveput on Christ. AUG. Or the bestrobe is the dignitywhich Adam lost;Aug.de theservantswho bringitarethe preachersofreconciliation.Ev.Tii. AMBROSE.Or the robeistheclokeof wisdom,by which theq.33. Apostlecoversthe nakednessof thebody. But he received thebestwisdom; forthereisone wisdom,which knew not themystery. The ringisthe sealof our unfeignedfaith, and theimpressionof truth; concerningwhich itfollows, And put a ringon his hand. BEDE. That is,his work ing,thatby works faithmay shine forth,and by faith hisworks be strengthened.AUG. Or the ring on theAug.hand isa pledgeof the Holy Spirit,becauseof the par-u l' ticipationof grace,which is wellsignifiedby the finger. CHRYS.Or he ordersthe ring to be given,which is »LeChiys. symbolof the sealof salvation,or ratherthe badge ofbe-