Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; and Luke 15:1-32. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 51 (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 51 "The Miserere: Prayer of Repentance and Hope in God"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.'' So he got up and went back to his father.

"While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.

"Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'" 

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11, 2016)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11, 2016)

Community in Mission: Crazy! A Homily for the 24th Sunday of the Year (10 SEP 16)

The Sacred Page: Prodigal Son Sunday: 24th Sunday in OT (7 SEP 16)

The Sacred Page: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin & Lost Son: Mass Readings Explained (The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time) (9 SEP 16)

Word on Fire: A Coin, A Sheep, A Son (Cycle C * Ordinary Time * Week 24)

Catholic World Report: The Dispatch: The Parable of the Perfect Father (10 SEP 16)

Spirituality of the Readings: The Prodigal Us (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Prodigal Father, Two Lost Sons (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)

The Word Engaged: Prodigal Love (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)

Historical Cultural Context: Offensive Behavior (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Peter Chrysologus (24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)