Gospel Reflections for September 11 2016
…there’s something wrong here!
Jesus tells three terribly wrong parables in a row in this Gospel about God’s mercy and the reaction of the crowd must have been wild.
Yet these three parables of the lost coins, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son are some of the most beloved stories for us today. What’s going on?
When Jesus spoke these parables he deliberately included features that would not have made sense to the people then. That made the story stand out and so challenged and engaged their mind in unexpected ways.
For example, when Jesus describes a shepherd going after a lost sheep the crowd instantly thinks, “Wait! There’s something wrong here …sheep never get lost!” They knew sheep are the most timid of animals and always stay close to the shepherd. If a sheep ever did get lost, well, there must be something wrong with it …and certainly not worth rescuing! In fact, you would not even want a crazy sheep like that back in your flock.
If a shepherd ever went after a lost sheep in the wilderness and then carried it back, other people seeing him (and knowing that sheep never get lost) would assume that he stole it from another flock, and the penalty for stealing sheep was death. This is a remarkable shepherd!
Jesus presents a parable that is completely counter-cultural to the people at that time. He affirms He is willing to go after a mistaken and errant sheep that no one else would ever want and even risk his risk his life in doing so.
Jesus courageously seeks us …and always and wants us back in His flock no matter how crazy, sinful, or errant we have been. He is even willing to die for us, as the crucifix in almost every Church affirms. The cross reveals just how passionate Our Lord is about His desire for us to find the happiness that can only come from Him.
In my parish of St. Bruno in Whittier, CA. we have highlighted our cross with a red banner in anticipation of the mass this Wednesday at 7pm on the Feast of the Holy Cross. Like today’s parable, the cross reveals just how far Our Lord would go to rescue us from our sinfulness. Today’s anniversary of 9-11 reminds us just how much our world still needs His help.
We may have turned against Our Lord but He will never turn against us. We may have abandoned Him at times, but He will never abandon us. How lucky we are to have a shepherd such as this!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Image used with permission under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
I really love this story about, its reflect my life. its really hard to follow the step Jesus but as far as i know although i commit many mistake in my life i always pray to him that he will forgive me of all my sins that I’ve
done. I’m a sinner,
You can always count on the mercy of Our Lord.
You provide an amazing insight by relating the parable as counter culture at that time. He saved us and will never abandon his lost sheep.
Yes, and that is a lesson needed today as well.
Again you unfold the gospel to show the richness hidden therein. How do you know so much about shepherding? One would think that you were born in Galilee and raised in a place that had sheep and shepherds!
Growing up in Thousand Oaks, CA. helped as we lived in a sheep grazing countryside. I learned a lot watching those sheep!
I like the Prodigal Son parable in the Gospel. I know so many older sons (daughters) who feel slighted as he did, and when his father explains that he is also loved it helps me understand as well. We discussed this in Bible yesterday at my parish, St. Louis in Cathedral City. Thank you for your newsletter as always, Fr. Dave.
The Prodigal Son story is the most amazing of all. Such boundless mercy from God!
What a fitting symbol for a commemoration of the 9/11 events – the cross surrounded by a red banner!
As Wes Stupar well knows, Father Dave was raised in a place very close to the climes of Galilee, Thousand Oaks, and there was indeed a sheepherder, Juan, who tended a flock in these hills, guiding them safely across the then unsignaled main intersection of the town, now a city of well over 100,000!
One can easily conclude that Fr. Dave learned the skill of shepherding and has applied it in his ministry so very well over these many years. Those who still reside here miss him very much!
Bob and Rose Mary
I certainly miss the Conejo valley!
Dear Father Dave:
When I think of the lost sheep, I also think of families who’ve had a child go astray. The fact that Jesus is there to reach out to such a son or daughter has to be of great comfort to mothers and fathers … parents in pain.
God bless you for your tireless work….
Kathleen
I think Jesus knew this story would apply across many centuries and to countless families.
Father Dave, Once again thank you for the beautiful insightful commentary!!! Our faith is soooooooooooooooo incredibly beautiful and precious!! To know the beauty of God’s love that he would send his most amazingly precious Son, our Jesus of love to teach us to love and to die for us so that we may be in God’s embrace once again!! Soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful!!! and to know that our Jesus, like a good shepherd will always find us, forgive us and lead us back to our God!!!! Love our precious Good Shepherd and love you for shepherding us in love!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
You are welcome!
Father Dave,
You explain every gospel so clearly, we are so blessed to still be able to see your writings.
We are also very lucky indeed to have a shepherd like this..
Fondly,
Marie and Hank Ceci
Thank you!
WOW.. Your explanation ws very much enlightening and encouraging. When we get lost and wonder away it is good to know that He is still there trying to woo us back into the fold. We may try to give up on God but H
e never gives up on us.
You got the lesson of this parable perfectly.
Gosh…I remember that shepherd who lived in a tiny trailer in the Santa Rosa Valley.. Saw him in the mornings as we drove our 3 children to St Paschals school up the Norwegian Grade. It was a lesson on loyalty and commitment as we explained it to our children. Thank you Fr. Dave for the insight and a long ago memory.
We were lucky to live in this Conejo Valley and have these memories.