Gospel Reflection for The 7th day of November in the year of Our Lord, 2024

Gospel

Luke 15:1-10

1 Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spoke to them this parable, saying: 4 What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:

6 And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? 7 I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. 8 Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost. 10 So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

On the surface, today's Gospel is a very pleasant one. We all wish forgiveness and to know that God loves us. However, it is humanly very hard to accept. We are rational actors. If we had one hundred sheep would we really leave them and go off into the night, facing dangers, just to save one? Most would not. Even as much as parents love their children, abortion is justified by nearly all if the life of the mother is in danger. It is an act of love beyond human understanding when a mother chooses to carry the baby to term knowing that she will likely die in the process. It happens, but such people are rare saints.

But, there is also the matter of forgiveness. Recently, there has been much controversy on social media over a porn star who has left her former life to become Catholic. Instead of celebrating the return of this “prodigal daughter” or lost sheep, it seems many Catholic women still condemn her. Even prominent Catholics have rejected her conversion and stated that no matter how holy the life she may lead from now on or how sincere her conversion, she must be rejected and reviled by all. That too, is unfortunately a very natural response. Like the older brother of the Prodigal, these women have spent their lives striving to be holy, praying hard, working hard, being responsible, not enjoying the pleasures of the flesh or the money to be made in such professions. They resent that this woman can simply repent and be equal to them.

But, that is the truth. The truth is that God loves the sinner just as much as the saint. He died for both, individually. While the graces bestowed upon the saint may be greater, the love of God for both is equal, as is His willingness to forgive. We accept that Saint Paul changed from a murderer of Christians to become one of the Holy Apostles. Why is it so hard to accept such conversions in our own times? Heaven rejoices that this lady has become a Christian and repented of her former life. Once again, the Douay Rheims makes an excellent point:

"Before the angels": By this it is plain that the spirits in heaven have a concern for us below, and a joy at our repentance and consequently a knowledge of it.

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Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January-June, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3M1WDZ

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK

His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic