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[Jesus] did not finish all the urgent tasks in Palestine or all the things He would have liked to do, but He did finish the work which God gave Him to do. The only alternative to frustration is to be sure that we are doing what God wants. Nothing substitutes for knowing that this day, this hour, in this place, we are doing the will of the Father. Then and only then can
we think of all the other unfinished tasks with equanimity and leave them with God.
- Charles E. Hummel (1923-2004), The Tyranny of the Urgent
(What is the work God calls you to do this day?)
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EZ 34:11-16; PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6; ROM 5:5B-11
LK 15:3-7
Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes:
"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."
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"It is precisely in this that God proves His love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans 5:8
God became incarnate. He became a man. "In Jesus Christ God not only speaks to man but also seeks him out. The Incarnation of the Son of God attests that God goes in search of man. Jesus speaks of this search as the finding of a lost sheep (cf Lk 15:1-7). It is a search which begins in the heart of God and culminates in the Incarnation of the Word" (Towards the Third Millennium, Pope St. John Paul II, 7). God is the Good Shepherd, humbling Himself to the point that He runs after and pursues His
lost sheep. The all-holy, almighty God empties Himself (see Phil 2:7) and chases after mere human beings. This humble love of God is revealed in the prophetic vision of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In imitation of the incarnate Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and His Sacred Heart, let us:
- humbly chase after sinners to show God's love for them,
- wash the feet of others (see Jn 13:4ff),
- open and expose our hearts to others (see 2 Cor 6:11-13), even in crucified vulnerability, and
- lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ and even for our enemies (1 Jn 3:16).
Jesus commanded and promised: "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). Learn not only to love the Sacred Heart of Jesus but also to love as the Sacred Heart loves.
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
SECTION XI. Everything is Supernaturalised by the Divine Action
The divine action incites souls to aim at the most eminent sanctity; all that is required on the part of the soul is abandonment to this action.
Yes, divine Love! to what heights of supernatural, sublime, admirable and incomparable virtue would all souls arrive if they would but be satisfied with Your action!
Yes, if they would leave the matter in this divine hand they would attain to an eminent degree of perfection! Everyone would arrive at it because it is offered to all. No effort is required because the work accomplishes itself. Every soul possesses in You an infinitely perfect model, and by your action which works ceaselessly to this end, is rendered like this model. If all souls were faithful copies of this
divine example they would all speak, act, and live divinely. They would not require to copy each other, but would be singled out by the divine influence, and each would be rendered unique by the most simple and ordinary things.
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