A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to (Luke 15:1-10)
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
“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.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
Reflection: We are loved
In today’s Gospel reading we hear of the great mercy of God, as sinners and tax collectors are drawn to Jesus. They reach out to Him, they want to hear and listen to him, they are moved by the warmth of Jesus’ message of love, mercy and forgiveness from his teachings. They want to change their ways and follow Jesus, to the dismay of the Scribes and Pharisees who would rather avoid them.
And what a beautiful image our Lord Jesus shares of God’s deep love for humanity, especially the lost, as he relates the search for the lost coin and lost sheep to how God loves and seeks everyone, even sinners and tax collectors. God is willing to keep looking for us when we are astray like lost sheep, and He continues to seek us out until we are found, to be reunited with God once again.
We are loved. Even if we may have chosen a path that leads to a worldly life, or a life of pride, sin and selfishness, even if we currently choose to ignore God’s promptings in our hearts.
Yet, the Father continues to seek for our company. He is our good and loving shepherd who continues to seek us even while we are lost. God wants us to be safe, He desires us to be restored, He desires for us to be with Him. God never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is always patient, always loving, always ready to forgive and receive us back with open and loving arms.
All we have to do is to heed His gentle nudges and promptings in our hearts, ask forgiveness and follow His call, and He will guide us to live lives of goodness, kindness, compassion and mercy, to be reunited with Him and our loved ones with the angels and saints, where there will be great rejoicing for eternity in Heaven.
Return, and run to God’s loving arms of mercy. We have are loved.
Action for the Day:
In quiet prayer of 10 to 15 minutes, ask God to give us strength and wisdom to follow Him. Seek God’s mercy, ask for forgiveness for sins, and reconcile with God and our neighbors. Make amends and follow God’s daily promptings in our hearts.
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