READER 1	Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
READER 2	Tax collectors
READER 3	Sinners
READER 2	Non-observant Jews
READER 1	But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
READER 3	Then Jesus told them this parable:
READER 1	"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
READER 2	Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
READER 3	And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
READER 1	Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
READER 2	I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
READER 3	Celebration
READER 2	Rejoicing
READER 1	"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.
READER 2	Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
READER 3	And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
READER 1	In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
READER 2	Celebration
READER 3	Rejoicing
READER 1	Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
READER 2	The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.'
READER 3	So he divided his property between them.
READER 1	"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
READER 2	After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
READER 3	So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
READER 1	He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
READER 2	No one gave him anything.
READER 1	"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
READER 2	I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
READER 3	I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
READER 2	So he got up and went to his father.
READER 1	"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;
READER 2	When he was still a long way off
READER 3	His father saw him
READER 2	and was filled with compassion for him
READER 1	he ran to his son,
READER 2	He ran
READER 3	garments flying
READER 1	threw his arms around him and kissed him.
READER 2	"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
READER 3	"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
READER 1	Put a ring on his finger
READER 2	and sandals on his feet.
READER 3	Bring the fattened calf and kill it.
READER 1	Let's have a feast and celebrate.
READER 2	For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'
READER 3	So they began to celebrate.
READER 1	Rejoicing
READER 2	Celebration
READER 3	"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.
READER 1	When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
READER 2	So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
READER 3	'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
READER 1	"The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
READER 2	So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
READER 3	Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
READER 1	But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
READER 2	'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me,
READER 3	and everything I have is yours.
READER 1	But we had to celebrate and be glad,
READER 2	because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
READER 3	he was lost and is found.'