GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
Chapter 15: Overview
Introduction
We will see that this chapter is a careful composition of Luke shaped around the theme of repentance. At the same time we will also learn much about the nature of our God. As such, this chapter is of special importance for our understanding of Jesus and his teachings.
Composition of the Chapter
The chapter begins with an introduction, verses 1-3. To see the unity of the composition, look now at its end. Consider how verses 27-30 echo the introduction of verses 1-3.
How might the three parables that follow be described? There's a useful guide in the subheadings of The New American Bible.
Now have a look at my response.
Our Reading
The parables of the sheep and the coin clearly form a pair so we will read them together with the introduction, 15,1-10.
We then have another page for the third parable, that commonly known as the Prodigal Son, 15,11-32.
The Sunday Gospel
The whole chapter is read on the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, which shows the importance of this chapter for the Church. Unusually the parable in the second half of the chapter, traditionally called the Prodigal Son, is being repeated, because it is also heard on the 4th Sunday of Lent.
We will look at the Old Testament reading for this Sunday when we read the first half of the chapter.
We are now ready to move straight into our reading of this chapter with the first two parables, Lk 15,1-10.