Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Thursday in Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
488

FIRST READING

Phil 3:3-8

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

PSALM

PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Response: Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

GOSPEL

Lk 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Daily Reflection

The Pharisees observed the law and followed every precept, yet it seemed that they could not please Jesus. They found that He paid more attention to the tax collectors and those considered to be sinners, and this upset them.

Jesus illustrates what the ‘laws’ of God really mean through two stories: Shepherds normally count their sheep when rounding them up at the end of the day to ensure that all are accounted for. They would search for any missing sheep before calling it a day. The relief of finding the sheep alive and well compounded their happiness. Finding the lost coin would mean the difference between food on the table or not. Searching the house diligently for it, therefore, gains considerable significance.

Finding that which is lost – not just sheep and coins but also the sinner – is an occasion for great joy and celebration. Those who have been cut off and left in the cold are now welcomed and included.

Let it be known that we are all called to live in God’s love and mercy.