The Word Am I

The Gospel According to St. Luke

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 15 -

(Matthew 18:10–14)
1
Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him.
2
And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This one accepts sinners and eats with them.”
3
And he told this parable to them, saying:
4
“What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it?
5
And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6
And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.’
7
I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8
Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it?
9
And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.’
10
So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.”(a)

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)
11
And he said: “A certain man had two sons.
12
And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.
13
And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.
14
And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.
15
And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.
16
And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.
17
And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!
18
I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19
I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’
20
And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
21
And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’
22
But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
23
And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.
24
For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.
25
But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26
And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant.
27
And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’
28
Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him.
29
And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends.
30
Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’
31
But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours.
32
But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Footnotes

(a)15:10 Before the angels:By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it.(Challoner)
(Matthew 18:10–14)
1
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
3
He told them this parable:
4
“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
5
When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7
I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8
“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma (a) coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
9
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’
10
Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)
11
He said, “A certain man had two sons.
12
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.
13
Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
14
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15
He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16
He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
18
I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19
I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
24
for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25
“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26
He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
27
He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’
28
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
29
But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
30
But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31
“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32
But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

Footnotes

(a)15:8 A drachma coin was worth about 2 days wages for an agricultural laborer.