THIÊN CHÚA LÀ CHA CỦA TÔI- REFLECTION 24TH SUNDAY-C

Details: Category: Thiên Chúa Là Cha Của Tôi

Mo Nguyen

Sep 14 at 6:14 AM

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

LOST - FOUND - CELEBRATION

  TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / C

    15 SEPTEMBER 2019

REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL

RECLAIMING THE LOST

The Gospel for today (if the longer version is read) contains all three ‘Parables of the Lost’ from Luke 15. Each focuses upon a person who loses something personally precious and who then responds in what seems a foolish and extravagant way: leaving ninety-nine sheep to fend for themselves while going after the one who is lost; turning the house upside-down to find a small coin; running out to welcome home a son who has ruined and disgraced the family. The final act in each case is a summons to a joyful communal celebration.

Jesus tells the parables to defend the welcome he is giving to ‘tax collectors (social outcasts) and sinners’ and his festive celebration of their being ‘found’ or ‘re-found’ by God. What he is doing is simply an earthly reflection of a much greater celebration going on in heaven.

Taken together, the parables show that, as far as God is concerned, the chief issue is not so much sin and its forgiveness but the loss and then the recovery of human beings, who are so precious in God’s sight.

The third parable, commonly but somewhat inadequately know as ‘the Prodigal Son,’ introduces a further character, the older brother. His behaviour shows the difficulty human beings have in coming to terms with such a vision of God.

True conversion is not just a matter of turning from overt sinfulness (like that of the younger brother). It can also mean confronting resentment at God’s generosity to others. What human beings might be thought to ‘deserve’ does not control the action of God.

Brendan Byrne, SJ

I am the Good Shepherd by John Michael Talbot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFRcyFcyesA

  I am the Good Shepherd