I have had crosses in plenty--more than I could carry, almost. I set myself to ask for the love of crosses--then I was happy.
- St. John Vianney -
(Resistance to necessary struggles and suffering produces neuroses and even more problems. What crosses are you called to embrace at this time in life?)
|
PHIL 3:3-8A; PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
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.”
Shalom Place Covid-19 resource page
- Practical, inspirational and spiritually formative writings and podcasts
see http://shalomplace.com/covid-19.html and check back often as we're frequently adding more.
Reflection on the Scriptures |
Today, Luke tells us one of Jesus’ most well-known parables about the lost sheep. Jesus’ story about the man who leaves 99 of his sheep to go after the one that is lost counters our most basic instinct. It contradicts our worldly sensibilities that are calibrated toward self-preservation. Surely, it is in the man’s best interest to focus on the 99 and not concern himself with the one that strayed. However, in
today’s first reading Paul gives witness to the shaky ground upon which this premise stands. Upon encountering Jesus, Paul attests that whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. In other words, his accomplishments according to what the world valued meant less than nothing once he encountered Jesus and realized what he meant for the world. His whole understanding of existence and what was truly of value had to be recalibrated upon this encounter. Indeed, that
God would seek out the lost sheep - in this case, Paul, who had persecuted the Church - was reason for hope.
- by Scott McClure
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 85
"Lord, blessed mayest Thou be, for it is thus: it is well"
AND in this sight I marvelled highly. For notwithstanding our simple living and our blindness here, yet endlessly our courteous Lord beholdeth us in this working, rejoicing; and of all things, we may please Him best wisely and truly to believe, and to enjoy with Him and in Him. For as verily as we shall be in the bliss of God without end, Him praising and thanking, so verily we have been in the foresight of
God, loved and known in His endless purpose from without beginning. In which unbegun love He made us; and in the same love He keepeth us and never suffereth us to be hurt [in manner] by which our bliss might be lost. And therefore when the Doom is given and we be all brought up above, then shall we clearly see in God the secret things which be now hid to us. Then shall none of us be stirred to say in any wise: Lord, if it had been thus, then it had been full well; but we shall say all with one
voice: Lord, blessed mayst thou be, for it is thus: it is well; and now see we verily that all-thing is done as it was then ordained before that anything was made.
|
|
|
