Gospel: Lk 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:
The 2 parables speak of something lost - a sheep and a coin. The pain which is felt when we lose something precious, is what Jesus wants to highlight here. He wants to show, how God feels pain when even one of God's creatures, are lost , especially we persons who are in the image and likeness of God. How do they get lost? Probably due to lack of alertness as in the first case, the sheep just keeps going on from one green turf to another, without noticing, whose turf it is, and whether it is good for its life. It is what happens with anyone who is careless with one's habits, and company. The second parable is of a lost coin. The coin was part of a collection, suddenly it falls away , away from the group. It is in its own world, in loneliness and open to any danger - spiritual or temporal. The woman is so worried about it, even though the entire collection is there. She searches for and is happy only when she finds it.
In both these parables, we the behaviour of God, who seeks us -- no matter how we get lost. God's love encompasses us and wants to be sure that we are not in the wrong company or left unloved, stray , open to danger and insecurity. Let us trust in God, and spend time feeling the positivity and love of God, by recalling all our blessings and building loving relationships with those around us.
Activity:
Examine if you are lowly falling prey to some bad habits -- nibbling along with some addictions, which is taking me away from the loving spiritual habitat of sacredness of life! Resolve to be found by God!
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