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| "The Return of the Prodigal Son" -- by James Tissot |
Saturday
of the Second Week of Lent
FIRST
READING: Micah
7:14-15, 18-20
14
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy inheritance, them that
dwell alone in the forest, in the midst of Carmel: they shall feed in
Basan and Galaad according to the days of old.
15
According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt I will
shew him wonders.
18
Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest by
the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in
no more, because he delighteth in mercy.
19
He will turn again, and have mercy on us: he will put away our
iniquities: and he will cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea.
20
Thou wilt perform the truth of Jacob, the mercy to Abraham: which
thou hast sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
PSALM:
Psalms 103:1-4,
9-12
1
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his
holy name.
2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for
thee.
3
Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.
4
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy
and compassion.
9
He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.
10
He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities.
11
For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath
strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
iniquities from us.
GOSPEL:
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
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:
11
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.
