DAILY- HOMILY

November 7, 2019 – THURSDAY, 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Green.

Rom 14: 7 – 12 / Lk 15: 1 – 10

FROM THE 1ST READING: Rom 14: 7 – 9
In fact, none of us lives for himself, nor dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Either in life or in death, we belong to the Lord; it was for this purpose that Christ both died and come to life again to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

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 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, in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner, than over ninety-nine decent people, who do not need to repent.

"What woman, if she has ten silver coins 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, for I 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 reminds us of the undeniable central reality that we live and die for God, our Creator and Lord, "Either in life or in death, we belong to the Lord."

The Gospel reading speaks of God's loving and endless mercy, featured in the parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin.

The shepherd relentlessly searches for his lost sheep, leaving the ninety- nine during his search. He calls his neighbors to rejoice with him on finding the lost sheep. Similarly the woman makes a thorough search in her house for the lost silver coin and calls her neighbors to rejoice with her on finding the lost coin

These two parables are simple depictions of God searching for and finding the repentant sinner, "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." (Lk 15: 7)

In similar fashion the loving and forgiving father of the prodigal son shows God's love for the repentant sinner, ". . . this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad." (Lk 15: 32)

FINALLY, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.


Have a good day!

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