Gospel: Luke 15:3-7
And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
I tell you,
in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of
repentance."
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Reflection:
A wayward daughter, who had four children from four different men, was disowned by her parents. With a heavy heart and nowhere to go, she wandered in confusion and pain. Longing for a fresh start and spiritual direction, she found herself at the door of a convent, seeking advice and temporary shelter from the nuns who welcomed her with compassion.
There are moments in life when we find it so easy to give up on those who are lost and wayward. We judge their mistakes, forgetting that they too are capable of repentance and transformation. Often, we fail to remember that we, too, are sinners. Yet Jesus, in His boundless mercy, never gave up on us—no matter how many times we’ve turned away from Him.
Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are reminded of the depth of His love and mercy. In the Gospel, we encounter the Sacred Heart of our Lord—a heart that never gives up. A heart that willingly leaves behind the ninety-nine to search for the one who is lost. A heart that is ever gentle, patient, and eager to embrace the sinner who returns.
If we are quick to judge, Jesus is quick to forgive. If we walk away from the broken and misguided, Jesus runs after them. His love never gives up, never grows weary, never fails.
Do you have a wayward or misguided relative or friend? Don’t give up on them. Pray for them. Reach out to them. And when the Lord gives you the opportunity, gently share with them the light and hope that Jesus has poured into your own life. You may be the vessel through which Christ reaches their heart. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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