Luke - Chapter 15

Passage

Now the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to him to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners and eats with them. And he told them this parable, saying: What man of you who has a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one which was lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, does he not lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing? And coming home, does he not call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner who does penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. Or what woman having ten coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a candle and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, does she not call together her friends and neighbors, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost? So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. And he said: A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me. And he divided his property between them. And not many days after, the younger son, gathering everything together, went abroad into a far country: and there he wasted his property, living recklessly. And after he had spent everything, a great famine came in that country: and he began to be in need. And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks the swine ate: and no one gave him anything. And coming to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house have plenty of bread, and here I am perishing with hunger! I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am not worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. And rising up, he came to his father. And when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and, running to him, fell upon his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. And the father said to his servants: Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry: Because this my son was dead and has come to life again, was lost and is found. And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him: Your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe. And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore came out and began to plead with him. And he answered and said to his father: Behold, for so many years I have served you and I have never disobeyed your commandment: and yet you have never given me a young goat to make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours has come, who has devoured his property with harlots, you have killed the fatted calf for him. But he said to him: Son, you are always with me; and all I have is yours. But it was right that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found.