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15:1-32 Now all the
tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. The Pharisees
and the scribes murmured about this saying "This man receives
sinners and eats with them."
And he spoke a parable to them (the latter) saying "What man of
you who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the
nine-nine in the desert and go after the one who was lost until he finds it? And on finding it he places it on his
shoulders rejoicing. Then coming
into his house he calls together his friends and neighbours
saying to them. "Celebrate with
me because I found my sheep which had been lost." I tell you that there is joy like that in
heaven over one sinner who repents rather than over the nine-nine just ones
who have no need of repentance. Or
what woman who has ten drachmaes who, if she
loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek
carefully until she finds it. And on
finding it she calls together her friends and neighbours
saying "Celebrate with me because I found the drachma which I had
lost." So I tell you there is
joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." And he also said "There was a
certain man who had two sons. The
younger of them said to the father.
"Father give me my share of the
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property." So he divided up the living for
them. And after not many days, the younger
son, having gathered up all his things, departed to a far away country.
There he spent his property by living lavishly. When he had spent all his money there came a severe famine throughout that country and he
began to be in want. Going he joined
(up with) one of the citizens of that country and he sent him into the
fields to feed pigs. And he (the
son) longed to feed his stomach with the very husks that the pigs ate but
nobody gave any to him. So he
thought to himself. "How many
of the hired servants of my father have an abundance of bread. But I am perishing here with the
famine. Rising up I will go (back)
to my father and I will say to him. "Father I have sinned against
heaven and before you. I am no
longer worthy to be called your son.
Make me rather as one of your hired servants." And so rising up (the son) came to the
father himself. Yet while he was
still far away his father saw him and was moved with pity. (The father) ran and fell on the neck of (the
son) and fervently kissed him. And
the son said to him. "Father I
have sinned against heaven and before you.
I am not
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worthy
to be called your son." But the
father said to his slaves. "Go
quickly and bring out the best robe and clothe him. Give him a ring on his hand and sandals
to his feet. Bring in the fattened
calf to kill it and on eating it let us celebrate and be merry." But
meanwhile the (father's) older son was in a field and as he came near the
house he heard music and dancing. So
calling one of the lads to him he asked what was going on. The latter said to him. "Your brother has come (home) and
your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate his home-coming. But he (the older brother) was angry and
did not want to go in. So his father
came out and besought him. But he
(the older brother) answered and said to the father. "Look I have served you for many
years and have never disobeyed any of your requests. And you have never given me a goat so
that I could party with my friends.
But when this son of yours, who after devouring his living with
harlots has come back, you have killed the fattened calf for
him." And he (the father) said
to him. "Son you are always
with me and everything that I have is yours." Yet it is right for us to celebrate
because your brother who has been dead has
come to life and being lost has been found."
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