First Reading

Reading from the prophecy of Micah

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Lord, our God, shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your heritage,
that lives solitary among weeds
and wild thickets.
They will graze in Bashan and Gilead,
as in days of old,
as when we came out of Egypt
and you showed us your wonders.

What god is like you, who removes iniquity
and overlooks the rebellion of the remnant of Israel?
You will not keep your anger forever,
for you delight in showing mercy.

You will again have compassion on us,
you will trample our iniquities underfoot,
you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
You will be faithful to Jacob and merciful to Abraham,
as you swore to our ancestors in ancient times,
Lord, our God.

Gospel

Reading of the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

At that time, tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and scribes murmured among themselves: «This man receives sinners and eats with them.»

Jesus told them this parable: «A man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father: ‘Father, give me the share of the inheritance that falls to me.’ And he divided his goods between them.

Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything he had and went to a distant country, and there he squandered his fortune, living dissolutely. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that region, and he began to be in need. He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would have gladly filled his belly with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.

Then he came to his senses and said: ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough bread, and here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers.’

And he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran to him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Now the elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what was happening. The servant replied: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ But the elder brother became angry and refused to go in.

His father came out and pleaded with him, but he answered his father: ‘Look, for so many years I have slaved for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when this son of yours comes back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him.’

But the father 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 back to life; he was lost and is found.'»