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Monday, 9 September 2019

Joy in Repentance


Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
15 September 2019

First reading Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14

The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'” And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

Second reading                                                          1 Timothy 1:12-17


I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 15: 1-10

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection
By Benj Santiago

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I believe our God is a loving and merciful God. When I sin, it is I who hides away from Him. And when we hide or stray away from Him, He is the One who looks for us, like the shepherd or the woman Jesus mentioned in His parables today.

God knows how fragile and sinful we are. This is why He instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation or what we know as Confession. Every time I go for Confession, I feel unburdened and cleansed. There is joy in my heart. And I believe as mentioned in Luke 15:10, “there is joy before the angels of God”. I am assured that God will continue to welcome me with open arms, is very happy when He finds me when I stray away. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify You! Thank You for being a loving and merciful Father. Grant us a repentant heart that we may always seek and stay in Your love. This we ask in Jesus Name, Amen!


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