READINGS: Exodus 32: 7-11. 13-14Â Â /Â Â Psalm 51: 3-4. 12-13. 17. 19Â Â /Â Â 1 Timothy 1: 12-17Â Â /
LUKE 15: 1-32
HIS WORD…REJOICE WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP… REJOICE WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND THE COIN THAT I LOST… BUT NOW WE MUST CELEBRATE AND REJOICE, BECAUSE YOUR BROTHER WAS DEAD AND HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST AND HAS BEEN FOUND…
my words…Today, the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we listen to the Gospel of Luke the whole of Chapter 15 which speaks about the great mercy, compassion of, and forgiveness from God through trilogy of parables or the three parables of the lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7), the lost coin (Lk 15:8-10), and the lost sons (Lk 15:11-32). They all speak of the value of the individual sinner in the eyes of God and how His angels are rejoicing in heaven once one repents. And this is God’s attitude toward us sinners; He is always ready to welcome and embrace us when we realize our sinfulness and decide to return to Him via the Holy Sacrament of Confessions and Reconciliation. And the grace that God will restore to us once we repent is not just the grace of servanthood but the grace of restoring us as His full children; meaning, total restoration of our sonship or being children of God.
Brothers and Sisters, all three parables underline REJOICING as a festive mood in heaven for repentant sinners. And this simply means that we are always valuable in the eyes of God, He cannot afford to lose us. And let also and always remember that God is so patient in waiting for our return to Him as exhibited in the parable of the lost sons (Lk 15:11-32). He is also so patient in searching for us individually as in the parables of the lost coin (LK 15:8-10), and the lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7). God really cares for us individually as a person and as a creature made according to His own image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27).
Brothers and Sisters, let us not fail GOD, let us always go back to Him every time we commit sins, let us always rise from our every fall, and continue with our journey with Him and unto Him. God is indeed our forgiving, generous and loving Father because when He forgives, He forgets; meaning, He always sees the person in us, not the sinner in us. That is how precious we are in God’s eyes and domain!
Brothers and Sisters, God forgives us always without any limit, not only seven times, but seventy times seven times (Mt 18:21-22). God truly and infinitely forgives us for He always loves the repentant sinner. Let us always repent and be back to His loving embrace for truly we are all His beloved children.
REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL… AND BE BACK TO THE L0VING EMBRACE OF THE FATHER…
By Fr. Julius C. Lupot