Reading 1
Ex 32:7-11, 13-14
The LORD said to Moses,
"Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
'This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'
"I see how stiff-necked this people is, " continued the LORD to Moses.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation."
But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying,
"Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'"
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.
Reading 2
1 Tm 1:12-17
Beloved:
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
Lk 15:1-32
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."
Then he said,
"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
'How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him,
and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
But his father ordered his servants,
'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
'Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
'Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns,
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him,
'My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'"
Meditation: Luke 15:1-32
“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
All three of today’s stories—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—have two central themes. The first theme focuses on God’s desire that all of his children who are lost will be found and come home to him. The second theme focuses on our own calling to go out in search of the lost and bring them home.
These three parables all speak of the great joy that God has whenever a “lost sheep” returns to him. Of course, our Father treasures all of us who are faithful and loyal to him. He loves us more deeply than the most devoted father loves his children. But God rejoices even more when a brother or sister who has been in danger is rescued and brought home safe and sound. The danger is past, and another child has been redeemed!
These parables also tell us about the lengths to which God is willing to go in order to rescue us. Jesus said that a shepherd would be willing to risk ninety-nine sheep just to retrieve one sheep that had wandered away. He would be willing to brave the wolves and the hazards of the wilderness—and leave the other sheep unprotected—just to save the one. That’s how important lost souls are to him. They are worth all the risk.
Similarly, the woman who lost her coin dropped everything to search her whole house. She left nothing unturned until she found that missing coin. And finally, the father of the prodigal son kept vigil, waiting for his son to come home. He left the running of his estate to others while he stood and watched for his son’s return.
Evangelization brings great joy to our Father. In fact, it is sometimes better to neglect some areas of our lives when we find an opportunity to help someone come back to the Lord. There is nothing greater than seeing all heaven rejoice when we do!
“Father, give me the courage to join you in seeking out the lost!”
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Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Exodus 32:7-11,13-14, Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,17,19, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-32)
1. The first reading today speaks of the idol erected by the Israelites after they left Egypt. It also describes God’s wrath against those who would put created things above him. We, as Catholic men, can put the things of this world ahead of our worship and obedience to God. We too often have a tendency to return to familiar patterns of behavior or even sin when confronted with difficulties. What areas of your life have the potential to be (or are) “idols”?
2. The responsorial psalm speaks of David’s cry for the forgiveness and the mercy of God. It is also a cry for a “clean heart” and a “steadfast spirit.” How might you take better advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to receive a “clean heart” and a “steadfast spirit”?
3. In the letter to Timothy, Paul tells how he himself, once “the foremost” of sinners, received God’s mercy and came to serve the Lord. He went on to say that he was “mercifully treated” so that in him, “Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for all those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life” (1Timothy 1:16). How might your service to God and the Church be seen as an example to others of God’s love and mercy? How willing are you to tell others of God’s love and mercy?
4. In the Gospel, we read of the complaints being made against Jesus; that he “welcomes” sinners. How well are you reaching out to others, especially those less fortunate than you? How might you go the “extra mile” to serve your spouse, your family, your parish, your co-workers?
5. The Gospel also recounts the parable of the prodigal son. Like the son, how have you valued what God could do for you more than you valued your relationship of love and intimacy with him? How might you use the example of the father in the parable as an inspiration in your own life? What is your level of hope and trust in your heavenly Father’s love for your family, especially those who may be far from the Lord right now?
6. The meditation ends with this short, but powerful prayer: “Father, give me the courage to join you in seeking out the lost!” Evangelizing those who need to hear the Gospel message does indeed takes courage, but as the meditation states, it “brings great joy to our Father.” If you are in a small group, take some time to pray for one another for the grace and courage to reach out to the lost. Also, spend some time praying together for the members of your families that need to turn back to the Lord.
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