“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?”

luke 15:4

Luke 15:1-10

Reflection

Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep and the woman who loses her coin today. When a shepherd loses one sheep, he goes after it. Likewise, the woman searches for her lost coin until she finds it. Jesus tells them that there will be much joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, even more so than 99 righteous people.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He will come after us time and again when we become lost and stray from his side. How comforting, considering how often we sin and don’t follow Christ. Every single time we wander, Jesus brings us back joyfully. He doesn’t come with anger, but rather with extreme love and mercy.

When we do stray from the flock, we must turn back to Jesus and ask him to help us come back home. He will always come after us, but we also must be repentant in turning back to him. We become lost in many ways, and frequently, but when we realize our sin and truly repent, Jesus rejoices and gently carries us into the fold.

Ask Jesus for the grace of a repentant heart. If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, take time this week to go. Jesus will always be there with open arms, waiting to embrace you ever more deeply.

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Saint of the Day

St. Florentius of Strasbourg: died c. AD 693

St. Florentius was an Irish priest who, although first was a hermit, became a bishop in France. He was known for curing people of various ailments and diseases, and for founding a monastery in his time.

St. Florentius, pray for us!