Gospel Reading
Luke 15:1-32 Jesus responds to those who criticize him for keeping company with the unworthy.

Background on the Gospel Reading
In chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells three parables about losing, finding, and rejoicing. The Pharisees and scribes are suspicious of Jesus. They complain about him associating with sinners. So, he tells them these three parables.

In the first story, the parable of The Lost Sheep, the shepherd leaves behind the 99 sheep to search for the 1 lost sheep. When he finds it, the shepherd rejoices not alone as in Matthew's version, but with friends and neighbours. In the same way, God rejoices more over 1 sinner who repents than over the 99 righteous like the Pharisees and scribes.

The second story, about a poor woman who will not stop searching until she finds her lost coin, makes the same point. Why are the Pharisees complaining? They should rejoice when the lost are found.

Finally, we come to what is probably the most memorable parable in the Gospels, the story we know as The Prodigal Son. Just as in The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin, this story (found only in Luke) is really about the seeker. The loving father is at the centre of this parable. Upon his son's return, the father, “full of compassion,” runs out to embrace and forgive him before the son can utter one word of repentance. At this point the rejoicing begins. The father's response teaches us that God's care and compassion extend to the righteous and sinner alike. When we are lost, God doesn't wait for our return. He actively seeks us out. And when the lost are found, how could we not celebrate and rejoice?

Family Connection
Read or retell in your own words, the three stories from the Gospel. Ask your children to recall games they play that involve losing or hiding something and then finding it. (Hide and Go Seek) Talk about how exciting it is to find the person or thing being looked for.

Ask your children if they have any memories of losing something special or being lost themselves. Share the stories as well as the fears or feelings. Then tell them that just as you would go to any length to find and bring them home if they were lost, so too would God. That is what Jesus is telling us in the three stories. No matter what we do, no matter how wrong we are, God, our loving father, is always anxious to forgive us and welcome us back home.

Year Four First Holy Communion Retreat Day
On Thursday 8 September all of Year Four are coming together to celebrate Holy Communion. The day will be focused on what Eucharist means for us as members of our local and global community. The day will be full of fun activities including team building games, contemplative prayer and reflection, guests’ speakers and learning more about the Last Supper and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The students will reflect on how they can be children of hope, sharing the Good News with their community and making a difference in the lives of others, guided by the values Jesus taught us.

The retreat is the final culminating activity before 15 of our Year Four students receive their first Holy Communion. Masses will take place on the 10^th and 11^th or September and the 17^th and 18^th of September. Please keep all these children and their families in your prayers as they make this big step in their faith journey.