6. and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep! ’
7. I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.
8. “Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9. When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost! ’
10. I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
11. He also said: “A man had two sons.
12. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.
13. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.
14. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.
15. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16. He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any.
17. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!
18. I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’
20. So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
21. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’