FIRST LESSON 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the
power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the
genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe
in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 15:11-32
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father,
“Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between
them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and
there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
So 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 gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one
gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have
bread enough and to spare, but 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 before you; I am no longer worthy to be called
your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’”
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then 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 a robe—the best one—and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and
celebrate; forthis son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began
to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music
and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has
come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then
he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he
answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have
never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might
celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property
with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”
Then 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 to life; he was lost and
has been found.”’
