Lux. 15, 8–10

Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a candle and sweep the room and search carefully until she finds it? And when he has found it, he will call together his friends and neighbors and say, "Rejoice with me: I have found the lost coin."

Thus, I tell you, the angels of God have joy even over one sinner who repents.

134. The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Lux. 15, 11–32

And the Lord said, "A certain man had two sons; And the youngest of them said to his father, "Father, forgive them! Give me the next part of my estate. And the father divided the estate among them. After a few days, the younger son, having gathered everything, went to a distant country and there squandered his possessions, living dissolutely.

And when he had lived through everything, there came a great famine in that country, and he began to be in need. And he went and joined one of the inhabitants of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he was glad to fill his belly with the horns that the pigs ate, but no one gave it to him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired men have bread in abundance, and I am dying of hunger. I will arise, and go to my father, and say to him, Father, forgive him! I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son; Accept me as one of your hirelings.

And he got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion; and running, he fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, "Father, forgive him! I have sinned against heaven and before Thee, and am no longer worthy to be called Thy Son.

And the father said to his servants, "Bring the best garments, and clothe him, and give a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring a fatted calf, and kill it; Let us eat and be merry! for this my son was dead, and is alive again; disappeared and was found. And they began to have fun.

And his eldest son was in the field; and on his return, when he approached the house, he heard singing and rejoicing. And he called one of the servants, and asked, What is this? He said to him, "Your brother has come; and thy father slaughtered the fatted calf, because he received it well.

He was angry and did not want to come in. And his father, having gone out, called him. But he answered his father, "Behold, I have served you so many years, and have never transgressed your commandment, but you have never given me a kid to make merry with my friends." And when this son of yours, who squandered your wealth with harlots, came, you killed a fatted calf for him.

And he said to him, My son! You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. And for this it was necessary to rejoice and rejoice, that this brother was dead and is alive again; disappeared and was found.

135. The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward and Lessons from It