Gospel – Luke 15:1-10

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 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.

“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 on the Gospel

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

Twenty-seven faith driven activists and academicians, of various religions, genders, races, and ethnicities penned an “Open Letter Against the New Nationalism: An Appeal to Our Fellow Christians” in Commonweal on August 19, 2019. I imagine that their “calling out” of sinful US behavior, under the guise of nationalism, is similar to God calling out the Israelites for their sinful behavior millennia earlier. The Israelites had Moses to intervene before for their safety; may we follow the wisdom of these 27 21st century prophets and turn away from our own unfaithfulness to God, as demonstrated by vengeance and hateful, xenophobic behavior that is undoubtedly displeasing our God in heaven.

Brother Steve Herro, O.Praem.
Diocese of Green Bay

Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus in our hearts – Forever.