The Lost Sheep

Nov. 7: Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

This post from the

Biblical Womanhood Substack

doesn’t really have anything to do with today’s readings, but I thought it was nice and it reminded me of my mom (a nana many times over). You’ll probably like it, too—

The Importance of a Godly Grandmother

Reading 1

Phil 3:3-8a

Brothers and sisters: We are the circumcision,  we who worship through the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh, although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Paul, back when he was Saul, thought he had a lot to brag about. He was one of God's Chosen People. He had obeyed every law, followed every tradition. He was blameless. But it was all for nothing, because it wasn't done for Christ, nor done with love.

We aren’t born with innate goodness. We have to try, with God’s grace, to discern the right course of action and follow through on it. There’s no point in being self-satisfied with the station of life we were born into.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

The Israelites were chosen first by God, so they could prepare the way for His Son to enter the world. But they weren’t meant to make the mistake Saul (in the first reading) and the Pharisees (in the Gospel) did—they didn’t earn God’s favor. God granted it out of pure fatherly love. Thus, they’re called on to sing God’s praise as an example to the whole world.

Alleluia

Mt 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus is talking here about the burdens placed on the people by the Pharisees. They were more concerned with The Law, like Saul, rather than love for their flock, like Jesus.

Gospel

Lk 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.”

Paul was on of the lost sheep Jesus was talking about. The thing about being lost is, we often don't even know we're lost. Paul was proud of his persecution!

Sheep only recognize the danger they were in once they're back in the loving arms of the shepherd. He saves us from ourselves as much as any external danger.