GOSPEL READING Luke 15:1-32
Reader: The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 15th chapter.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to
him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
“This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them
this parable: 4“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one
of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the
one that is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders and rejoices. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his
friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have
found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy
in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who need no repentance. 8“Or what woman having ten silver
coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house,
and search carefully until she finds it? 9When she has found it, she calls
together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have
found the coin that I had lost.’ 10Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11Then
Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them
said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will
belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days
later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant
country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When
he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that
country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out
to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed
the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the
pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to
himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread
enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and
go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
treat me like one of your hired hands.’ 20So he set off and went to his
father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father
said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one— and put it
on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the
fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to
celebrate. 25Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of
the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has
come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him
back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His
father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his
father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for
you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never
given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your
property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that
is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this
brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been
found.’”
Reader: This is the gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Reader: While everyone was amazed at all that Jesus was saying and
doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears:
All: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”
(Luke 9:43-44)
