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| “The Lost Sheep” by William James Webb, 1864 |
Reading 1: Romans 14:7-12
Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why then do you judge your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written:
As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.
So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.
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Commentary on Rom 14:7-12
St. Paul makes it clear that Jesus died and rose that he might be Lord of the dead and the living. All are one in the Lord. Based upon this unity, the evangelist chastises those who judge others (in the context of this section, this chastisement is directed at those who follow Mosaic Law scrupulously, condemning those who do not). He reminds the community, loosely quoting Isaiah 45:23 which was foundational for the Kenotic Hymn (Philippians 2:10) and shared the imagery from Psalm 95:6, that on the last day we will all stand before the same God to be judged.
CCC: Rom 12-15 1454, 1971; Rom 14 1971; Rom 14:7 953; Rom 14:9 668
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1bcde, 4, 13-14
R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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Commentary on Ps 27:1bcde, 4, 13-14
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the singer expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom. The selection, commonly used at vigils for the deceased, rejoices in the prize awaiting the faithful.
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Gospel: Luke 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.”
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Commentary on Lk 15:1-10
Jesus uses criticism by the scribes and Pharisees as a teaching moment. He uses parables to announce God’s infinite mercy, driving the point home that God rejoices in the return of those who have turned their backs to him in sin. The two parables (the parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Lost Coin) show clearly the Lord’s love for all people, and special joy in those who repent. These two stories are followed immediately by the parable of the Prodigal Son that emphasizes this point further.
A principal difference between St. Luke’s rendition of the parable of the Lost Sheep and that of St. Matthew (Matthew 18:12-14) is that St. Matthew emphasizes (to the apostles) the seeking, while St. Luke emphasizes (to the Pharisees) the joy of finding. This emphasis is graphically depicted as the author writes: “And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.” As St. Gregory the Great comments: “He put the sheep on his shoulders because in taking on human nature he burdened himself with our sins” (In Evangelia homiliae, 2, 14). [4]
CCC: Lk 15 1443, 1846; Lk 15:1-2 589; Lk 15:7 545
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Reflection:
As we consider the great mercy of God that comes out clearly in St. Luke’s account of the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, we cannot help but consider those who do not wish to be found. For the fervent believer in Christ, there is no more troubling situation than to have someone we love (we speak here of familial love for a parent, a sibling, or a child) reject the Lord completely. It is common to hear a person in this situation ask the question; “What about my own father? He never believed or even wanted to believe.” The question is asked especially during this season when we consider those who have gone before us in faith.
Does a person who hears the word of God and rejects it earn everlasting torment in hell, even if they lead an otherwise blameless life? The answer to that question is hidden from us. We do not know. We could speculate that a merciful God would, as the spirit transitions from this life to the next, offer one more chance to embrace the Lamb of God, but we do not know. Our only consolation is that our prayers for such people will help. Our witness to the One True God may be seen as the invitation always extended to our loved ones.
As we ponder this question it is apt that we hear the words of St. Paul
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Lost Sheep” by William James Webb, 1864.
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] The Navarre Bible, Gospels and Acts, Scepter Publishers, Princeton , NJ
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