You're listening to the Catholic Sprouts podcast.

This year, we are reading through all four Gospels.

Join us as we invite God to plant seeds of faith in our lives through His Holy Word.

Hey there, welcome back to the Catholic Sprouts podcast, where we are reading the Gospels this school year.

Today is day 31.

We are in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, and we are reading verses 1 through 20.

Now, you're going to hear one of my favorite parables today, the parable of the lost sheep.

I'm reading from the new American translation of the Bible. I encourage you to take notes and follow along as you read. Also, my friends,

remember that God's holy word is alive and active. So let's begin in prayer. In the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth. Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. A reading from the Holy Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 1 through 20. At that time, the disciples approached Jesus and said, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a child over, placed it in their

midst, and said to them, Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not

enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the

kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be greater for him to have a great millstone

hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of things

that cause sin. Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come if your hand or foot causes you to sin

cut it off and throw it away it is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled

than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out, and throw it away.

It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gahena.

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