First of all, last
Wednesday we remembered the tragic events that took place nine years ago in New
York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. We pray today for all who have died and
for an end of violence, particularly violence in the name of religion. We have
experienced violence in the name of Islam. Many others throughout history have
experienced violence in the name of Christianity. God did not reveal Himself to
us so we can kill each other! Violence in the name of religion is an offence
against God, so let us pray together for the courage to resist returning
violence with violence[1].
Our Gospel today
is not about violence. It is about joy. There is a lot of rejoicing going on in
today’s liturgy. A lost sheep is found, a lost coin is found, and, in the longer
form of the Gospel, a lost son is found!
In all three of the incidents, the sheep, coin or son could have been
written off. After all, the shepherd had 99 other sheep, the woman had 9 other
coins, and the father had another son. He could have washed his hands of the
son who had treated him so badly and offended everything the father stood for. He
could have decided that he just needed to be happy with the son who was
faithful to him. He couldn’t and he wouldn’t.
People who care don’t write people off.
Instead they focus on them.
We are God’s
projects. He doesn’t give up on any of us. Instead he searches for us. He finds
us, and He calls us back to the family that is his Kingdom. I remember many
years ago reading Francis Thompson’s poem, The
Hound of Heaven. Perhaps you have read it. In the poem the poet relates how
he had spent years running away from God, but God would not stop pursuing him. Just
as a hound chasing a fox will keep a steady pace until the fox tires out, God
continues to pursue us. His Love for us makes Him the Hound of Heaven.
This is
important for us to remember when we feel that we are beyond help. We fall into
habitual sin. We can’t believe that we have returned to that which destroys us.
We are tempted to give up on ourselves. And yet, God still pursues us. He will
not give up on us.....any of us.....ever.
The gospel
begins with the Lord explaining to the Pharisees and scribes why he is eating
with tax collectors and sinners. They want to change their lives. They had been
lost, but now are found. This is a time to celebrate.
God celebrates
the times that we return to him. Jesus said, I tell you that there will be more celebration in heaven over one
sinner who repents then over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of
repentance. We know that. We know the joy that we have and that He has when
we return to Him. The tax collectors and sinners did not come to hear the
Pharisees and scribes, because they knew that they would find only judgment.
They came to hear Jesus, because he was happy that they wanted to change their
lives. We do not go to confession because we are seeking the pain of rehashing
our deepest secrets. We go to confession because we know that our Savior loves
us and embraces us with joy, and we know the joy that we experience when we are
one with Him.
So, God does not
give up. He will not give up on us, calling us to him personally. Seeking us
out individually. Nor does He give up on anyone, even those who have been far
from the faith, from morality. He calls
us all to join Him in the joy of His Presence, the Joy of the Banquet of the
Lord.
The return of
those who have had been away is a time for celebration. Maybe greed, lust, anger, pride, some sin or
other, convinced them to leave the warmth of the family. The cause of their
leaving no longer matters. They have returned. The family is back together. We need to celebrate ■
[1] 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time C,
September 15, 2013, Reading I: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14, Responsorial Psalm:
51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19, Reading II: 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Gospel: Luke 15:1-32 or
15:1-10.
