DAILY- HOMILY

November 8, 2018 – THURSDAY, 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Green.

Phil 3: 3- Sa / Lk 15: 1 – 10

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Phil 3: Sb- Sa

I was born of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, born of Hebrews. With regard to the Law, I am a Pharisee, and such was my zeal for the Law that I persecuted the Church. As for being righteous according to the Law, I was blameless.

But once I found Christ, all these things that I might have considered as profit,

I reckoned as loss. Still more, everything seems to be as nothing compared with the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord.

GOSPEL READING:           Lk 15: 1 - 10

Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told them this parable:

"Who among you, having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and seek out the lost one till he finds it? And finding it, will he not joyfully carry it home on his shoulders? Then he will call his friends and neighbors together and say: 'Celebrate with me for I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, just so, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent.

"What woman, if she has ten silver pieces and loses one, will not light a lamp and sweep the house in a thorough search till she finds the lost coin? And finding it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say: 'Celebrate with me forI have found the silver coin I lost!' I tell you, in the same way there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

REFLECTION

In the first reading Paul details his personal history from a devout Jew and Pharisee to a dedicated Apostle of Christ: "Once I found Christ, all these things that I might have considered as profit, I reckoned as loss. Still more, everything seems to be as nothing compared with the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord."

In the Gospel reading Jesus uses two parables to show how God seeks out a sinner and rejoices at his repentance: Jesus makes use of parables of the lost sheep and of a lost silver coin.

If for one unfortunate reason or another, we abandon the Lord by sinning, we know that the Lord, in his infinite love and mercy, will seek us out to return to him. He untiringly and gently speaks to us, even if many times we reject him.

God has given us the precious Sacrament of Reconciliation where we find his mercy and forgiveness through the ministry of the Church. The forgiving Father lovingly awaits the return of his prodigal children.

Have a good day!

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