St Gregory of Narek

Lord, with your staff,
be the shepherd of your people,
of the flock that belongs to you,
that remains isolated in the thicket,
surrounded by orchards.
Let them find their pasture in Bashan and Gilead,
as in days of old!
As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
you will show them wonders!

Who is a God like you, who removes guilt,
who passes over rebellion
as you do for the remnant, your inheritance:
a God who does not obstinately hold on to his anger forever
but delights in showing favor?
Once more, you will show us your mercy,
you will trample our sins underfoot,
you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!
Thus you grant Jacob your faithfulness,
Abraham your favor,
as you swore to our fathers
since the days of old.

– The word of the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
bless his holy name, all my being!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
do not forget any of his benefits!

For he forgives all your offenses
and heals all your diseases;
he redeems your life from the grave
and crowns you with love and tenderness!

He does not accuse forever,
does not keep his reproaches without end;
he does not treat us as our faults deserve,
nor repay us according to our offenses.

As the sky is high above the earth,
so strong is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our sins from us.

At that time,
tax collectors and sinners
were all coming to Jesus to listen to him.
The Pharisees and the scribes complained about him, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners,
and eats with them!"
So Jesus told them this parable:
"A man had two sons.
The younger said to his father,
'Father, give me the share of the estate that belongs to me.'
And the father divided his property between them.
A few days later,
the younger son gathered all he had,
and set out for a distant country
where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country,
who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He would gladly have filled his stomach
with the pods that the pigs were eating,
but no one gave him anything.
Then he came to his senses and said,
'How many of my father's servants have more than enough bread,
and here I am dying of hunger!
I will get up, go to my father,
and say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
Treat me as one of your hired hands.'
So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off,
his father saw him and was filled with compassion;
he ran to his son, embraced him,
and kissed him warmly.
The son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the father said to his servants,
'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet;
go and get the fattened calf and kill it;
let us eat and celebrate,
for this son of mine was dead,
and has come back to life;
he was lost,
and is found.'
And they began to celebrate.

Now the elder son was in the fields.
When he came near the house,
he heard music and dancing.
He called one of the servants
and asked what was going on.
The servant answered,
'Your brother has come home,
and your father has killed the fattened calf
because he got him back safe and sound.'
Then the elder son became angry
and refused to go in.
His father came out and pleaded with him.
But he replied to his father,
'For all these years I have served you
and never disobeyed your command,
yet you never gave me even a young goat
so I could celebrate with my friends.
But when this son of yours returned
after having squandered your property with prostitutes,
you killed the fattened calf for him!'
The father answered,
'My child, you are always with me,
and all that is mine is yours.
But we had to celebrate and rejoice;
for your brother here was dead,
and has come back to life;
he was lost,
and is found!"

– Let us acclaim the word of God.