Much Rejoicing

As Christians, we know that our confidence can be found in God alone. When we have confidence in our flesh, we are in big trouble. Because the flesh will always let us down. See what St. Paul says about confidence in today’s first reading.

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 15, Jesus tells two parables. In the first, he proposes a story of a guy with a hundred sheep. One of them goes astray. So he leaves the 99 behind to go look for the one stray. And when he finds it, he rejoices. In the second, a woman has ten coins and loses one. So she searches her house high and low. When she finds it, she even invites her neighbors to join in the rejoicing. Of course, the meaning of the parables is that this is how God is with us.

I like to look at these parables not so much as God seeking us out. You see, God is always there for us. He is never more than a breath away. He always knows where we are. It is we who are searching for Him. It is we who need to find our way back to Him. It's a bit confusing because a sheep can't find his way back but through dumb luck or instinct. And a coin is an inanimate object. But when we get lost (sin), we can find our way back (repentance). God is calling out to us, “Come back! I’m right here!” Sometimes it takes a while for us to hear Him, doesn’t it? But when we do return, there is much rejoicing!

Father, we’re so sorry for those times when we get off track; when we lose our way. Thank you for always seeking us out, waiting for us to find our way back to You. Amen.

Today’s Readings