Gospel Reflection - 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

Luke 15:1-32

     Jesus offers us a handful of parables today, all commonly themed around the joy of finding the lost.  In a way, through these parables, Christ is placing a claim on us; and He gives us a glimpse of His infinite love, and desire that we always remain in Him.  It brings great pleasure to our Lord, when we can both humbly and confidently surrender ourselves to that love.  But to remain in Christ, we must first walk through the shadows and trials of this earthly life, in order to prove our love for Him is genuine, to strengthen it, and to wholly submit to that claim.  And it is in this we find our struggle; it is in this that we are often led to wander from the path and get lost. 

Who hasn’t heard the child’s claim, “finders keepers?”  Hopefully, we have all learned the fault in this as we grow older.  But in reality, while most grow out of it, sin and temptation still hold fast to the idea.  For, when we stray and lose ourselves, evil is wont to find us, clinging to us as its own.

With this in mind, we are enlightened, yet again, on the love of our Lord, and furthermore, on His mercy.  For He rejoices when He finds His lost sheep, or coin, or son.  His mercy extends beyond the debt our infidelity demands; and if these parables do not assure us of this, then surely His sacrifice on the cross will!

In what ways can you relate to the lost sheep, coin, or son?

How can you conform yourself to the found sheep, coin, or son?