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| "The Return of the Prodigal Son" -- by James Tissot (Click image for full size view) |
FIRST READING: Exodus 32: 7 - 11, 13 - 14
7
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy people,
which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned.
8
They have quickly strayed from the way which thou didst shew them:
and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored it,
and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O
Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
9
And again the Lord said to Moses: See that this people is
stiffnecked:
10
Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and that I
may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation.
11
But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is thy
indignation kindled against thy people, whom thou hast brought out of
the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?
13
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou
sworest by thy own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the
stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will
give to you seed, and you shall possess it for ever.
14
And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken
against his people.
3
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according
to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
4
Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
12
Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my
bowels.
13
Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
17
O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy
praise.
19
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
12
I give thanks who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our
Lord, for that he hath counted me faithful, putting me in the
ministry;
13
Who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contumelious. But
I obtained the mercy of God, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14
Now the grace of our Lord hath abounded exceedingly with faith and
love, which is in Christ Jesus.
15
A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.
16
But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me first Christ
Jesus might shew forth all patience, for the information of them that
shall believe in him unto life everlasting.
17
Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour
and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1
Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.
2
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man
receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3
And he spoke to them this parable, saying:
4
What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one
of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go
after that which was lost, until he find it?
5
And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:
6
And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to
them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?
7
I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one
sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need
not penance.
8
Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not
light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she
find it?
9
And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours,
saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had
lost.
10
So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one
sinner doing penance.
11
And he said: A certain man had two sons:
12
And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the
portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his
substance.
13
And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together,
went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance,
living riotously.
14
And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that
country; and he began to be in want.
15
And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And
he sent him into his farm to feed swine.
16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did
eat; and no man gave unto him.
17
And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my
father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger?
18
I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, I
have sinned against heaven, and before thee:
19
I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired
servants.
20
And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way
off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running
to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.
21
And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and
before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.
22
And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first
robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his
feet:
23
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and
make merry:
24
Because this my son was dead, and is come to life again: was lost,
and is found. And they began to be merry.
25
Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to
the house, he heard music and dancing:
26
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27
And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed
the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.
28
And he was angry, and would not go in. His father therefore coming
out began to entreat him.
29
And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I
serve thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment, and yet
thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends:
30
But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance
with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31
But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is
thine.
32
But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy
brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is
found.
OR
1
Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.
2
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man
receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3
And he spoke to them this parable, saying:
4
What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one
of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go
after that which was lost, until he find it?
5
And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:
6
And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to
them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?
7
I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one
sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need
not penance.
8
Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not
light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she
find it?
9
And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours,
saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had
lost.
10
So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one
sinner doing penance.
