NARRATOR: The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured.
PHARISEES: This man welcomes sinners.
SCRIBES: He eats with them, too.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus addressed these parables to them.
JESUS: What man among you that has a hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the 99 in the wasteland and follow the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in jubilation. Once arrived home, he invites friends and neighbors in and says to them:
MAN: Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.
JESUS: I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over 99 righteous people who have no need to repent.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus told a second parable.
JESUS: What woman, if she has ten silver pieces and loses one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house in a diligent search until she has retrieved what she lost? And when she finds it, she calls in her friends and neighbors.
WOMAN: Rejoice with me! I have found the silver piece I lost.
JESUS: I tell you, there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees a third parable.
JESUS: A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father —
YOUNGER SON: Father, give me my share of the estate.
JESUS: So the father divided up the property. Some days later this younger son collected all his belongings and went off to a distant land, where he squandered his money on dissolute living. After he had spent everything, a great famine broke out in that country and he was in dire need. So he attached himself to one of the propertied class of the place, who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. He longed to fill his belly with the husks that were fodder for the pigs, but no one made a move to give him anything. Coming to his senses at last, he said:
YOUNGER SON: How many hired hands at my father’s place have more than enough to eat, while here I am starving! I will break away and return to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired hands.”
JESUS: With that he set off for his father’s house. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was deeply moved. He ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
YOUNGER SON: Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.
JESUS: The father said to his servants:
FATHER: Bring out the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Take the fatted calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.
JESUS: Then the celebration began. Meanwhile the elder son was out on the land. As he neared the house on his way home, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked him the reason for the dancing and the music.
SERVANT: Your brother is home, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has him back in good health.
JESUS: The son grew angry at this and would not go in; but his father came out and began to plead with him.
ELDER SON: For years now I have slaved for you. I never disobeyed one of your orders, yet you never gave me so much as a kid goat to celebrate with my friends. Then, when this son of yours returns after having gone through your property with loose women, you kill the fatted calf for him.
FATHER: My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice! This brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost, and is found.
Luke 15.1-32
Sunday Readings: Exodus 32.7-11, 13-14; 1 Timothy 1.12-17; Luke 15.1-32