Atonement and the Prodigal Son

The parable of the Prodigal or wasteful Son is more about the loving Father.  God is not a raging tyrant who must be appeased through the suffering of his Son.  Rather it's the extravagant love of Jesus, son of the extravagant Father, that makes atonement for our sins - the sacrifice of a spotless Passover Lamb.  For the 4th Sunday of Lent, cycle C.