Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time—Year C

Lectio

   Luke 15:1–32

Meditatio

“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”

   Today’s liturgy sets before us three parables that center on God’s mercy and love. This love is an incredible, almost ridiculous love that knows no bounds, welcoming all in its embrace. Jesus tells the story of the Good Shepherd. A group of tax collectors and sinners gathers eagerly around Jesus, hanging on his every word. With his keen eye, Jesus does not direct his parable to this interested, attentive group. Instead he speaks to a group of self-righteous bystanders. Some Pharisees are standing on the side, complaining that “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Doesn’t he know who these people are? Perhaps by directing his message to them—and to us—Jesus wants to show how outrageous is his love, a love that welcomes sinners in its embrace.

   “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,” he asks them, “would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?” This is crazy, utterly ridiculous! No sane person would leave ninety-nine strong, healthy sheep at risk in the desert in order to rescue one who is weak and fragile. Who would do such a thing? No one who has any sense. Would I? Would I risk all I have to save the small, insignificant, fragile one? Yet this is precisely the point. Jesus’ love does not make sense. It is a crazy, passionate, utterly ridiculous love. It is a love that risks all it has to save the one. It is a love that embraces everyone, even the sinner who stands condemned and alone. It is a love that embraces the undesirables, the persons whom I look down upon, those who in my judgment count for nothing. Am I ready to love in this way? Am I prepared to love to this extent?

Oratio

   Jesus, your love is a crazy love, one that is utterly ridiculous in the eyes of the world. It is a love that risks all in order to gain the one. Teach me to love in this way. Teach me to widen my horizons so my love can be crazy and ridiculous, like yours.

Contemplatio

   Jesus, live and love in me!

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ORDINARY GRACE Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections (By the Daughters of St. Paul)