God Rejoices

Today’s Gospel Text: So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:3-7

Reflection: Seriously speaking; can it always happen that a shepherd will go in search of a lost sheep and then rejoice after finding the lost sheep.

If the shepherd was so concerned about his sheep then why would it sell for either sacrifice or for food or he himself feed on it when there is a family celebration.

The key element is not the truth of this statement and how many are practicing it but rather the great truth that Jesus intends communicating to us:

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (vs. 7) 

God is seriously interested in our salvation and he sending Jesus into the world was a serious business.

Through this parable Jesus communicates to us that love of us is what brings about rejoicing in heaven; each time we move closer to God as sinful children then it brings about joy to God’s heart.

Many are the hearts that feel the sense of emptiness and loss; some who are spiritual seek solace in some kind of socio-psycho spirituality and there are some who have betrayed the faith of Christ and feeding the flock of Christ with this kind of corrupt food.

There are some who are feeding the flock with eastern meditational techniques and mantra codes to satisfy the lost state and emptiness in the human heart.

There are also some who are the talented who keep the sinners entertained, with interesting stories and anecdotes and thus remain their savior; the lost will lead a lost crowd into interesting distractions.

In the midst of this St. Paul’s words still rings large:      

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,  because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30-31

Prayer:  Lord, I rejoice at your word that you will bring us out from the peoples, and gather us from the countries, and will bring us into our own land; and will feed us on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (cfr.Ezek 34:13-14)

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