THE
READINGS
March 6, 2016
FIRST READING: Joshua 5:9-12
9The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I
have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is
called Gilgal to this day.
10While
the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover
in the
evening on the fourteenth day of the month in
the plains of Jericho. 11On the day after the passover,
on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and
parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of
the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the
land of Canaan that year.
PSALM: Psalm 32 - please read responsively
1Happy are they whose transgressions are
forgiven,
and
whose sin is put away!
2Happy are they to whom
the LORD imputes no guilt,
and
in whose spirit there is no guile!
3While I held my tongue, my bones
withered away,
because
of my groaning all day long.
4For your hand was heavy
upon me day and night;
my
moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and
did not conceal my guilt.
I
said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."
Then
you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
6Therefore all the
faithful will make their prayers
to
you in time of trouble;
when
the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
7You are my hiding-place; you preserve me
from trouble;
you
surround me with shouts of deliverance.
8"I will instruct
you and teach you in the way that you should go;
I
will guide you with my eye.
9Do not be like horse or mule, which have
no understanding;
who
must be fitted with bit and bridle,
or
else they will not stay near you."
10Great are the
tribulations of the wicked;
but
mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.
11Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in
the LORD;
shout for joy, all who are true of
heart.
2
3
Stand
P: The holy gospel according to St. Luke, the
15th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-3,
11b-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were
coming near to listen to [Jesus.] 2And the Pharisees and the scribes
were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners
and eats with them."
3So
he told them this parable: 11b"There was a man who had two
sons. 12The 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. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had
and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in
dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So
he went and hired
himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would
gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one
gave him anything. 17But 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! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to
him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I
am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired
hands." ' 20So 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. 21Then the son said to
him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.' 22But 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. 23And get the fatted calf and kill
it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead
and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
25Now
his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked
what was going on. 27He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your
father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'
28Then he became angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and began
to plead with him. 29But 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. 30But when this son of yours came
back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted
calf for him!' 31Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always
with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But 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.'"
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
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