Parable Of The Lost Sheep

NOVEMBER 04, 2021, THURSDAY
Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 488

Reading I
Rom 14:7-12

Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why then do you judge your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written:
    As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
        and every tongue shall give praise to God.
So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

Responsorial Psalm
27:1bcde, 4, 13-14

R.    ( 13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
    of whom should I be afraid?

R.    I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

One thing I ask of the LORD;
    this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
    all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
    and contemplate his temple.

R.    I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
    in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
    be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R.    I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Alleluia
Mt 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
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.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”

REFLECTION:

‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?’ Perhaps this is a real question, and not a rhetorical one: would I be ready to give so much importance to one lost sheep out of one hundred? Yet God does exactly that. I might be feeling the lost sheep just now, or I may know someone who does. Lord, give me the love and the freedom to feel loved and cared for in a special way by you; help me to show that love and care to others.

PRAYER:

Jesus, you welcome all into your warm embrace. When we are lost your come to find us. When we are in despair You come to lift us up. When we feel forsaken, You remind us of your great love for each one of us. Thank you for loving us just as we are.