Study Desk

Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.

And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he returns to his home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!'

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.' So he divided his assets between them.

And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by living wastefully.

And he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs.

And he was longing to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

And he set out and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

And his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight! I am no longer worthy to be called your son!'

But his father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

But he became angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and began to implore him.

But he answered and said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!

And he also said to the disciples, "A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions.

And he summoned each one of his own master's debtors and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?'

"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

And a certain poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, lay at his gate,

and was longing to be filled with what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and licked his sores.

And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he was in torment and saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus at his side.