March 30, 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Lent

+ From the Gospel according to Luke (15:1-3.11-32)

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. But the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
And he told them this parable: “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will fall to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy of being called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.’” 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 and embraced him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy of being 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 hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now the older son was in the field. As he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this meant. He answered, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Then his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me so much as a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ His father answered him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’”

The Word of the Lord