Saturday in Easter

1Verse 1. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2Verse 2. “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? 3Verse 3. You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. 4Verse 4. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5Verse 5. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. 6Verse 6. My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ 7Verse 7. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8Verse 8. ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead, 9Verse 9. therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ 10Verse 10. This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’ 11Verse 11. For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12Verse 12. As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13Verse 13. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. 14Verse 14. I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15Verse 15. I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16Verse 16. I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

1Verse 1. Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. 2Verse 2. So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3Verse 3. Then Jesus told them this parable: 4Verse 4. “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5Verse 5. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6Verse 6. comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ 7Verse 7. I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.