FIRST READING
Philippians 3:3-8a
Brothers and sisters:
We are the circumcision, we who worship through the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh, although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.
If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.
But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Do you ever feel resentful or get upset when someone
else gets treated better than you think they deserve? The scribes and Pharisees
took great offense at Jesus because he went out of his way to meet with
sinners and he treated them like they were his friends. The Pharisees had
strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners, lest
they incur ritual defilement. They were not to entrust money to them or
have any business dealings with them, nor trust them with a secret, nor
entrust orphans to their care, nor accompany them on a journey, nor give
their daughter in marriage to any of their sons, nor invite them as guests
or be their guests. They were shocked with the way in which Jesus freely
received sinners and ate with them. Sinners, nonetheless, were drawn
to Jesus to hear him speak about the mercy of God. Jesus characteristically
answered the Pharisees' charge with a parable or lesson drawn from everyday
life.
What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin tell us about
God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end
of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very
nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered
and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when
he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. The housewife who
lost a coin faced something of an economic disaster, since the value of
the coin would be equivalent to her husband's daily wage. What would she
say to her husband when he returned home from work? They were poor and
would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety turn to
joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the housewife "search
until what they have lost is found." Their persistence pays off. They both
instinctively share their joy with the whole community. The poor are particularly
good at sharing in one another's sorrows and joys. What was new in Jesus'
teaching was the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely
mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that
all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole
community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship
with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently
pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?
"Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may
be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may
see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt
your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me
with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."
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