Today’s gospel passage, from chapter 15 of Luke’s gospel, is known as the “gospel in the gospels” or the “distilled essence of Christ’s good news.” In this chapter, using three parables, Jesus answers two accusations leveled against him by the Scribes and Pharisees, that he is mingling with the sinners and sharing their meals. These parables teach us that our God is a loving, patient, merciful, and forgiving God. He is eager to be merciful toward us, not vengeful and punishing. He is always in search of His lost and straying children.
The parables: Since the self-righteous Pharisees who accused Jesus of befriending publicans and sinners could not believe that God would be delighted at the conversion of sinners, Jesus told them the parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd's joy on its discovery, the parable of the lost coin and the woman’s joy when she found it, and the parable of the lost and returned son and his Father’s joy. Besides presenting a God who is patiently waiting for the return of sinners, ready to pardon them, these parables teach us God’s infinite love and mercy. These three parables defend Jesus’ alliance with sinners and respond to the criticism leveled by certain Pharisees and scribes at Jesus’ frequent practice of eating with and welcoming tax collectors and sinners.
Life messages: 1) We need to accept the challenge for self-evaluation and a return to God’s mercy: If we have been in sin, God's mercy is seeking us, searching for our souls with a love that is wild beyond all imagining. God is ready to receive and welcome us back as Jesus welcomed sinners in his time. Let us pray today that we will allow God’s love and forgiveness into our lives. 2) We also need to ask God for the courage to extend this forgiveness to others who have offended us. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us pray also for God's divine mercy on those who have fallen away from grace.
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