Lost Sheep

Today’s Gospel Text:  What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matt 18:12-14

Reflection: Who are these sheep and who are these little ones whom Jesus desires that they not perish?

In Christ’s reference it meant the Jewish people who were well secure within the sheepfold of the children of Israel and rarely a few who would go astray.

In the new order of the Church these could very well be each one of us who belong to his sheep fold, through faith and baptism? Indeed, they are not the ones who are on the outside and have opted not to belong to his sheepfold.

Hence, if we understand this doctrine of the sheepfold correctly then we shall be able to understand those who have gone astray either on account of their lack of faith in the shepherd or for not hearing the voice of the shepherd?

These could be the men who has stopped going to church or a person who has lost faith in God or the protestant who has left the mainstream to create his own rather than work within the sheepfold to correct the wrong within it or it could be the many in our time who are within the sheepfold and yet not in it; like weed among wheat.

Christ constantly goes out in search for these little ones. He uses each one of us who are in the sheepfold and are willing to be used as instruments to reach out to them.

This reaching out is not always a physical reaching out, but could even be the reaching out to the many in constant faith and prayer.

Our prayer in Christ Jesus can even reach out to the departed members, made possible and powerful through the resurrection of Christ and by the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit given to us at baptism.

The question always remain, how many of us volunteer to be used as his instrument either through prayer or practical action of faith which also needs to have its foundation in prayer, fully aware that apart from him we can do nothing. (cfr. Jn. 15:5)  

Prayer: Lord, as I seek to submit to your grace use me as your instrument to win souls for you. 

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