Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this parable. "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father . . . . (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031123.cfm
They say that context is everything. Well, chapter 15 of the Gospel According to Luke, gives us the context for understanding three parables of Jesus: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Lost Son. The context of course is the Eating & Drinking with Sinners which is one of the earliest and most cherished memories the church has about the Eucharist because it answers the question about who is welcome at the Table of the Lord.