November 6, 2014: Thursday, 31st week, Ordinary Time
- 'Eyeball' tie pin: look to the Lord in his strength (psalm) [Ouch; I can't find my original eyeball pin! Holy Tony, look around; something's lost, gotta be found.]
- 'Sheep' tie bar: Wouldn't you leave your sheep to seek a lost one? (gospel)
- 'Coin' button: Wouldn't you sweep the house to look for a lost coin? (gospel)
- 'Remote control' tie: go out with zeal; don't be 'remote' (homily) [admittedly a stretch, showcases my wife's recent thrift store find]
(Nothing for 1st reading's "we are the circumcision")
- Bring them in/ Thomas: lyrics+ (gospel)
- I was a wandering sheep/ Bonar (gospel); couldn't resist the bass singer playing accordion
- Lamb of God/ Paris ("I was so lost": gospel)
- I will sing the wondrous story/ Rowley ("I was lost...": gospel)
- Only this I want/ Schutte (1st reading)
Pope Francis homily
The Pharisees and scribes were scandalized because Jesus welcomed and ate with sinners, but Jesus came to seek the strays. Unlike Pharisees and scribes, God goes all the way. It's sad to see a shepherd open church doors and just wait, not feeling the need to go to tell others the Lord is good. Scribes and Pharisees didn't want to dirty their hands with sinners. Being a halfway shepherd is defeat; shepherds must have God's heart and go to the limit, as Jesus did. True Christians don't keep to themselves; they have zeal that no one be lost and so, unafraid to dirty their hands, go where they need to, risking life, reputation, comfort, status, even career. It's easy to condemn but not Christian! No half-way shepherds! Good Christians are outward bound, moving out of themselves to God in prayer, worship, and bringing others the message of salvation, knowing tenderness and joy. Halfway Christians may know some fun or calm, but not the heavenly joy from our saving Father's heart!
- Phil 3:3-8a We are the circumcision. I can be confident in the flesh, as a circumcised Hebrew Pharisee faithful to the law. But I now consider any gains I had as loss because of Christ. I consider everything as loss because of the good of knowing Christ my Lord.
- Ps 105:2-7 "Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord." Sing praise to him; proclaim his wondrous deeds. Look to the Lord, serve him, and recall his wondrous deeds...
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| "Lost sheep" from words of today's readings original image / click to animate |
- Lk 15:1-10 Jesus to Pharisees and scribes: “Who among you having 100 sheep and losing one wouldn't leave the 99 to go after the lost one, then rejoice on finding it? In the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous who have no need of repentance. What woman who lost one of her 10 coins wouldn't sweep the house to find it, then rejoice on finding it? In the same way, there will be rejoicing among the angels over one sinner who repents.”
Reflect
- Msgr. Brennan homily podcast: "We are never lost."
- Creighton: I can feel like a lost sheep, worried, shortsighted, caught up supposedly important demands, looking at others' flaws, wishing they were different to make my life easier, instead of seeing what I can do. When I make excuses and feel righteous, I know I’m lost. I'm thankful that I'll be welcomed back with joy....
- One Bread One Body: "Sin-sational": Jesus was a magnet for sinners; he sought, loved, and died for them. We must seek and love sinners as he does, risking our reputation....
- Passionist: How much effort would you put into looking for one coin or sheep, vs. accepting a 1-10% loss? Fortunately, God does seek out the stray till he finds it and brings it home on his shoulders. The rabbis said there was rejoicing in heaven when a sinner was destroyed, but Jesus taught that the rejoicing is when the lost are brought back.
- DailyScripture.net: The scribes and Pharisees took offense at Jesus because he sought out sinners and treated them as friends, contrary to strict regulations. Do I judge with mercy? The shepherd and woman search till they find, then share their joy. Jesus' new teaching was that sinners must be sought out. God wants all to be saved. Do I pray and seek after the lost?
- Universalis: All Saints of Africa. St. Illtud (Illtyd), abbot .
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