September 12, 2010 24th Ordinary Sunday Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14; 1 Tim. 1:12-17; Lk. 15:1-32 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:   http://www.usccb.org/nab/091210.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Repentance evokes images of sorrow for offending God, turning away from sinful acts and returning to God, along with a “firm purpose of amendment.” Repentance suggests return or conversion, but neither the wandering sheep nor the lost coin do anything except get lost. The dramatic surprise in each comes from the seeking shepherd and the searching woman, which make us realize that repentance is much more a matter of being found by a searching God than of anything we do. Repentance is the joy of being discovered by a searching God.   Jesus is emphatic about divine mercy. God, who is infinitely merciful toward sinners, actually goes out and looks for them, like a shepherd in search of a lost sheep or a woman looking for a lost coin. Then Jesus tells one of the most shocking parables of the entire Gospel tradition, the story of the “Prodigal Son.” It seems that God is more concerned with the fate of the sinner than with reward for the faithful.   The mercy of God is a difficult teaching to accept if we judge ourselves, over against others, to be righteous and deserving of reward. But if we are honest with ourselves and can admit that we too are in desperate need of God’s mercy, we will realize that envy of others is out of place. Actually, we should find the Scripture message for today very comforting. God is eager to be merciful toward us, not vengeful and punishing. This is definitely good news, reason to celebrate and rejoice.   It tells us that no matter how far we have traveled from God there is always a way back home because of God's love and the cross on which God's only begotten Son, Jesus, died in our place.   Lost tells the tragedy of human life. Perhaps ‘lost’ was the word Jesus used, not ‘sinner’, still less ‘damned’. Lost tells the wretchedness of the stray sheep and the tender love of the shepherd. “Seek” tells the pursuing love of God. People usually seem to be unaware of God, or so intent on their own affairs as to be deaf and indifferent; but their secret heart tells a different story.   No man lifted him from his obscure niche in history; the truth is rather that men tried to blot him out on a Cross and then to shut him in a grave. God lifted him. He is always walking the thickets of our world - seeking us.     <<   Previous: 23rd Ordinary Sunday  | Next: 25th Ordinary Sunday >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)