Bible Readings - June 27, 2025

Reading 1

Ezekiel 34:11-16

For thus says the Lord GOD:

Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them.

As a shepherd examines his flock while he himself

is among his scattered sheep, so will I examine my sheep.

I will deliver them from every place where they were scattered

on the day of dark clouds.

I will lead them out from among the peoples

and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back

to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains

of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land.

In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights

of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down

on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured

on the mountains of Israel.

I myself will pasture my sheep;

I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD.

The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back,

the injured I will bind up, and the sick I will heal;

but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.

I will shepherd them in judgment.

Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

I fear no evil; for you are at my side

with your rod and your staff

that give me courage.

You spread the table before me

in the sight of my foes;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Only goodness and kindness follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

for years to come.

Reading 2

Romans 5:5-11

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God

has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit

that has been given to us.

For Christ, while we were still helpless,

died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,

though perhaps for a good person

one might even find courage to die.

But God proves his love for us

in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood,

will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,

how much more, once reconciled,

will we be saved by his life.

Not only that,

but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Matthew 11:29ab

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am meek and humble of heart;

John 10:14-15

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;

and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

Gospel

Luke 15:3-7

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."