INTRODUCTION
In the previous Sundays, the Gospel readings were telling us about what we should do to attain salvation: strive to enter through the narrow door (21st sunday); be humble at all times; make God as the first priority in life (22nd sunday); carry your cross and renounce all your possessions (23rd sunday). These are all on the part of man. But given our limitations and weakness, can we do all these successfully? So, this Sunday, Jesus gives us the other and the most important part, namely, the part of God. Salvation is mainly the work of God, and our part is just to cooperate with His grace.
Unfortunately the emphasis on man which we see today was the same emphasis that led the fourth century heresy of Pelagius (British monk). He stated that original sin did not in anyway taint human nature, and that mortal will is very much capable of choosing good or evil without divine grace/assistance. Put differently, he held that human beings can earn their salvation by their own efforts. Meanwhile, the church affirms the ‘indispensability’ of grace for salvation (CCC 1987-2005). To illustrate the ‘dependability’ of man’s salvation on the grace of God, the writer of the book of Exodus highlighted how God repented from carrying out the evil he planned to inflict on the Israelites (an accent to salvation). St Paul recounted in his letter to Timothy about the evil he committed in the past and how he was saved by grace. And in the Gospel, Jesus tells the three “Lost and Found” parables.
FIRST READING: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14
Right from time, man has been a rebel against his creator. The disobedience of Adam and Eve recorded in the first moment of man’s encounter with his creator was replayed in the stubbornness and disobedience of the people of Israel displayed in the first reading today. God felt betrayed by his own people whom he saved by ‘crossing borders and defeating mighty hands.’ He regretted every bit of his effort. We can imagine how much pain there was in God’s heart to see the people acclaim a moulded calf as the god who saved them from the land of Egypt. It was indeed the height of man’s rebellion against God. The same author of the book of Exodus had earlier placed the worship of God against any other thing as the first and most sacrosanct of all the commandments of God (Ex. 20). Recounting this post-exilic event, the author wished to point out the influence of pegan nations on the Israelites. But on the other hand, he captured the seriousness of their sin by pointing out how God denied them. God told Moses, “Go down; for your people whom you brought up out of the Land of Egypt…” But the author quickly placed the message of this passage in the unselfish intervention of Moses. He reminded his audience that despite the infidelity of the people, God is still their God, and that it was he who truly brought them out of Egypt and not Moses. Thus he affirmed through Moses: “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people whom you brought forth out of the land of Egypt…” He concluded the passage by pointing out an important character of God in his dealing with man; forgiveness. And it is this forgiveness and mercy that give birth to the grace of salvation.
SECOND READING: I Tm 1:12-17
In this second reading which constitutes one of the pastoral letters addressed to an individual in the whole of Pauline corpus, St. Paul acknowledged his rough past. He accused himself of having acted under the ignorance due to blind interpretation of the law. We must recall that the conversion of St. Paul gave him a new vision regarding salvation. In his theology of salvation, he affirmed that the law in itself is incapable of salvation. Thus it is grace that saves.
This passage is meant to offer to everyone who will listen, a challenge to conversion. Paul who always contrasts his life before Damascus experience with his life after, in today’s passage (1:12-17), tells Timothy that, although he, Paul, had been the greatest of sinners, as a blasphemer and arrogant persecutor, God showed great mercy towards him. He thus invites all to contemplate the mercy of God as a call to conversion since we are all prodigal sons and daughters of God.
GOSPEL: Lk 15:1-32
The gospel reading presents us with three parables told by Jesus as a response to the self-righteous pharisees who criticized his association with sinners that everyone belongs to God, even ‘the lost one.’ And God is restless until he finds ‘the one.’
The shepherd noticed one sheep was missing. So he left the ninety-nine and looked for the lost sheep. When he found it, he put it on his shoulder and announces with great joy the good news. A woman had to clean up her entire house in search for one lost coin. When she found it, she invited her neighbors to celebrate with her. A son left the house and was lost in the midst of worldly pleasure and excess. But his father did not give up on him. Every day, he searched the horizon, looking for signs of the coming of his son. And when from afar he saw him coming home, he ran to meet him and kissed him.
We may get the impression that the search in the three parables was a waste of time. Why should ‘the one’ be sought for when there are still many left? But let me put it clear. We can only understand and appreciate these parables when we see ourselves as that ‘lost one.’ I am lost; you are lost; and each one of us is lost. Since then, God has not ceased to search. He walks through the valley. He climbs the mountain. He makes his way through the rough paths and in the dangerous forest of our sin and corruption just to rescue us. He lights the lamp to search for us in the darkest part of the world. He keeps sweeping until he finds us where we have hidden ourselves away from his sight. And even when we have squandered everything he gave us in promiscuous and wasteful ways, and are now looking wretched and tattered and unacceptable, it is even then that he increases his love for us and the desire to welcome us. He keeps standing at the entrance gate guessing expectantly for our return. Even when his legs grow heavy, he does not retire. He keeps vigil for our sake.
The fact is that we do not find God; He finds us! We do not choose Him; He chose us. We do not run to Him; He runs to meet us. Actually, most of the time, He runs after us.
LIFE MESSAGES:
1. We are all in God’s plan of mercy and love, whether we are the prodigal son or the self-righteous elder son.
2. Let us not pretend that all is well with us. We are all lost and must give God the chance to find us.
3. We need to learn how to welcome others as God welcomes us. We must pray for their well being instead of seeking for their downfall. Are we like the elder son that was happy that his brother was lost so that he could inherit the rest of his father’s fortune?
4. We need to ask God for the courage and good will to extend God’s forgiveness to others.
5. Let us remain where we are, in that wretched and pitiable condition and the amazing grace of God will locate us like John Newton. And we will sing the joy of our salvation in these words:
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I was once lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.”
LET US PRAY WITH ST. AUGUSTINE
O Lord, you were within me, but I was outside. You were with me, but I was not with you. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.”
PAX VOBIS!
