Deacon: Wisdom! Arise! Hear the Holy Gospel!

Priest: Peace to you all. 

People: And to your spirit.

Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke (15:11-32)

People: Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest: Listen!

Deacon: At that time Jesus said,

'There was a man with two sons. The younger said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate which will come to me". So the father divided the property between the sons.

A few days later the younger son got everything of his together, and left for a distant country. There he wasted his money on a life of debauchery.

When he had spent everything, the country had a severe famine, and he suffered too. So he hired himself to one of the locals who gave him work on his farm feeding the pigs. He wanted to eat himself full of the husks the pigs were eating, but they would not let him.

Then he came to his senses and thought, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want, and even more. And here I am dying of hunger. I will leave this place and go to my father. I will say, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired men". So he left the place and went back to his father. 

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the young man, held him in his arms, and kissed him. Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son".

But the father said to his servants, "Quickly, bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it. We will celebrate with a feast. Because this son was dead to me, but he has come back to life. He was lost, but is found". And they began to celebrate.

Now the older son was out in the fields. On his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing.  He called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  The servant told him, "Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the calf we were fattening, because he has come back safe and sound".

He was angry then, and refused to go in. His father came out and began to urge him to come in. But he answered his father, "All these years I have slaved for you. Never once have I disobeyed an order of yours. Yet you never offered me so much as a young goat to celebrate with my friends.

"But that son of yours, when he comes back after wasting your property, him and his loose women, for him you kill the calf we have been fattening".

His father said, "My son, you are with me always, everything I have is yours. But it is only right we should feast and rejoice. Your brother here was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found".'

People:  Glory to You Lord, Glory to You