Mercy - Reconciling the World to Himself in Christ

 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 11, 2022

Readings: Exodus 32:7–11, 13–14; Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 17, 19; 1 Timothy 1:12–17; Luke 15:1–10

The icon of the prodigal son and his father. Photo courtesy: Google

To listen to the audio-video reflections on YOUTUBE please click on this link: https://youtu.be/RIiPz4IIMt0

Often we label people. By doing so we find some amount of fulfillment. The word sinner which is quite often used in the Bible as well as in matters of spiritual things says something concretely to us. The liturgical readings of this 24th Sunday signify different understandings of sin and sinfulness. It means going astray, losing oneself, bringing back, finding it, turning away, worshipping the false gods, being in guilty, casting out from God's presence, blasphemer, persecutor, arrogant, acting out of ignorance in one's unbelief and so forth. Perhaps we can do some learning from today's readings to enhance our intimacy with God.

1. Looking at reality with new lenses

"Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain" (Luke 15:1). With these words, the Gospel reading of today begins. We can see here the situation in which Jesus was in. Jesus recognized the tax collectors and sinners before the merciful eye of God. Jesus welcomed to his fold those who were so-called marginalized or derecognized in society either because of their trade or simply because they could not be rightful in their dealings. When someone recognizes the goodness in a person then there are also those who simply cannot see the good in that person. Here there are Pharisees and scribes the perpetual grumblers trying to malign what Jesus has been doing. In other words, these critics go on finding fault in Jesus just because he walks and talks with those who are neglected by society. 

One of the beautiful qualities Jesus demonstrates is that he is never discouraged, distracted or disenchanted by the negativity that he faces. Jesus takes all sorts of ills of people with the right spirit of his mission of service and truth. Moreover, he does not stop at just listening to or saying it that this matters me nothing. In fact, Jesus faces the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes boldly. Jesus continues the mission with a stronger fervour and readiness to fulfil the mission entrusted to him. He embarks upon teaching not only to those who needed to listen to him but also those who were his critics by giving them a new way of looking at the reality of life.

2. Turning the negative attitude into a positive one

Jesus makes use of every opportunity that he encounters both positive and negative at the service of proclaiming the joy of the Gospel. Jesus is ever ready to bring out something positive from the people who surround him. Therefore he narrates a parable of a Shepherd who loses a sheep out of 100. And the Shephard is restless until he finds the lost one. Once he finds it, the joy of the Shepherd is boundless and uncontainable. All the more, he shares his joy with others. Often it is very difficult to lose something that is dear to us. We rejoice immensely when we find it and forget the pain of having lost it. Jesus says to us that every person is counted by God. Each one is dear to God. Hence we cannot be lost. In fact, God comes in search of us relentlessly. 

God's search is continuous. He is always there to show us his tender love and compassion. There is only rejoicing in having found the sheep or coin. The person forgets everything when joy replaces his mourning and pain. Jesus teaches us an important lesson that is God is always in search of us. He is continuously behind us caring for us. The immensity of God's care is incalculable. God has given us free will. We may like to do what we want, say "yes" or "no" to God's grace. His amazing compassion is always there even when we lose our way. That must be the reason why when a person gets into bad habits or evil things, his or her conscious always reminds or pricks what the person is doing is not right. If the person is ready to say no to such evil things, God's grace is always there. It all depends on us what we want to be. To live in God, we must turn away from evil. 

3. Being honest in difficult circumstances

Resisting to God's ways is easy. It is just letting go of yourself of what you are and what you are before God. You can be a good son or daughter of God. You can also become and behave like an idiot and a rascal. Our resentfulness to God's love and mercy can end up becoming a hypocrite and dishonest. By doing so, we lose ourselves just like that sheep which went astray without realizing the comforts of being connected with the other herd of sheep. There are always good chances to return to God. The chosen people of God the Israelites freed from bondage, people of the covenant at Sinai, Israel turned aside from His ways and fell to worshipping a golden calf. Moses implores God's mercy and his prayers are heard. The sin of the Israelites is also our sin. We push God away and reject the divine sonship and daughtership. 

The second short parable in the Gospel tells us how a woman because of her persistent search finds the lost coin. Our God too is a persistent God, looking for us, calling out to us day by day. God is both welcomes back the wandering son and says to the reluctant son that you are always with me. In Jesus, God comes to each one of us concretely. Therefore what is needed from our part is to become aware of God's loving presence all around us. We must seek to be more like him. We must also search for ways to welcome the lost and to show compassion to those who are returning to the fold. 

Questions for reflections:

1. Have you ever felt God is angry with you?
2. How do you accept God when your prayers go unanswered?
3. What is your reaction towards those people who speak always ill (negative) about you?

Prayer:

Compassionate and just God, thank you for your loving presence in our lives, holding us close. We thank you that you can see more goodness in us then we do in ourselves. Thank you that you rejoice so much when we return to you. Make our hearts O Lord, humbled and contrite. Help us to be compassionate like you and welcoming to those who have gone astray from your abounding love.

Have mercy on us, O God, in your goodness. A clean heart create for us and a steadfast spirit renew within us. Cast us not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from us. O Lord, open our lips, and our mouth shall proclaim your praise today and always. We make this prayer in Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

September 09, 2022