﻿Luke.
Chapter 15.
All the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear him. 
The Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
So he told them this parable: 
“Which of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? 
When he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 
I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 
Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 
When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin I lost.’ 
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 
He said, “A man had two sons. 
The younger said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 
Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything and went away to a distant country. There he squandered his property in reckless living. 
When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 
He went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 
He longed to fill his belly with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 
When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, while I am perishing here from hunger! 
I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ 
He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and had compassion. He ran, embraced him, and kissed him warmly. 
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 
But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 
Bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and celebrate, 
for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 
His older son was in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 
He called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 
He told him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf, because he has received him back in good health.’ 
But he became angry and would not go in. His father came out and pleaded with him. 
He answered his father, ‘Look, I have slaved for you all these years and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 
But when this son of yours came, who devoured your property with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 
He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 
But 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.’” 
