The Saints Gospel 102

Lost and Found

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Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable: “What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma that I lost!’

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

And He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ And he divided his livelihood between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he scattered his property by living recklessly. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to fill his belly with the carob pods 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 workers have bread to spare, while I am perishing here from hunger! I will rise and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ And he rose and went to his own father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, fell upon his neck, and kissed him warmly. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I 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 the best robe and clothe him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, and bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and be glad, because this son of mine was dead and came to life again; he was lost and was found.’ And they began to be glad. Now his older son was in the field. As he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things might mean. He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father slaughtered the fattened calf because he received him back in good health.’ But he became angry and was unwilling to enter. His father came out and pleaded with him.

“But he answered his father, ‘Behold, all these years I have served you as a slave, and I never passed over your command; yet you never gave me a young goat so that I might be glad with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything of mine is yours. But we had to be glad and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and was found.’”

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Saints Translation · The Saints Gospel · a harmony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts 1 · words of Christ in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.