Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

I Thank The Lord Jesus For Showing Mercy To Me And Appointing Me To Serve Him

¹² I have gratitude to Christ Jesus our Lord, the One having strengthened me, because He regarded me trustworthy^[a], having appointed me for service— ¹³ I formerly being a blasphemous one and a persecutor and violent^[b] one! But I was shown-mercy because being ignorant, I acted in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance— that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost^[c]. ¹⁶ But for this reason I was shown-mercy: in order that in me, the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate^[d] all patience, for a pattern for the ones going to put-faith upon Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King of the ages^[e], to the immortal invisible only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen.

Parables For Sinners And Pharisees

15 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing-near to Him to hear Him. ² And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying that “This One is welcoming sinners and eating with them”.

The Lost Sheep And Lost Coin: Heaven Rejoices When a Sinner Repents

³ And He spoke this parable to them, saying ⁴ “What man from-among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave-behind the ninety nine in the wilderness and proceed after the one having become-lost until he finds it? ⁵ And having found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And having come to the house, he calls-together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ I say to you that in this manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting more-than^[a] over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance. ⁸ Or what woman having ten drachmas^[b], if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until which time she finds it ? ⁹ And having found it, she calls together her women friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found the drachma which I lost!’ ¹⁰ In this manner, I say to you, joy comes-about in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting”.