The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reflect on our connection with the experience of revelation of the Love of God that resonates with the experience of Paul on the road to Damascus.
The reading from the Letter to the Philippians shares Paul’s Autobiography and his regard of everything as loss.
* [3:3] We are the circumcision: the true people of God, seed and offspring of Abraham (Gal 3:7, 29; 6:15). Spirit of God: some manuscripts read “worship God by the Spirit.”
* [3:5] Circumcised on the eighth day: as the law required (Gn 17:12; Lv 12:3).
* [3:7] Loss: his knowledge of Christ led Paul to reassess the ways of truly pleasing and serving God. His reevaluation indicates the profound and lasting effect of his experience of the meaning of Christ on the way to Damascus some twenty years before (Gal 1:15–16; Acts 9:1–22). (Philippians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches repentance in the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.
* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Joy over the fallen sinner restored in God's image”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"This second parable compares what was lost to a drachma (Luke 15:8-9). It is as one out of ten, a perfect number and of a sum complete in the accounting. The number ten also is perfect, being the close of the series from the unit upwards. This parable clearly shows that we are in the royal likeness and image, even that of God over all. I suppose the drachma is the denarius on which is stamped the royal likeness. We, who had fallen and had been lost, have been found by Christ and transformed by holiness and righteousness into his image... A search was made for that which had fallen, so the woman lighted a lamp... By the light, what was lost is saved, and there is joy for the powers above. They rejoice even in one sinner that repents, as he who knows all things has taught us. They keep a festival over one who is saved, united with the divine purpose, and never cease to praise the Savior's gentleness. What great joy must fill them when all beneath heaven is saved and Christ calls them by faith to acknowledge the truth? They put off the pollution of sin and freed their necks from the bonds of death. They have escaped from the blame of their wandering and fall! We gain all these things in Christ."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 106) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 15:1-10 comments that we don’t want to assume from this parable that Jesus is more concerned about some sinners than others. According to St. Luke, Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes (15:3). He wanted them to see that they were the lost sheep just as much as any tax collector was. He wanted them to recognize their own sins so that they could change. He wanted them to let him “find” them and carry them to his Father, just as he was doing for everyone else.
Jesus came to help every lost sinner—including you. It doesn’t matter how big or small or frequent or infrequent your sins are. Jesus cares about every part of your life, both the parts that you fear are beyond his reach and the parts that wander from him at times. Will you let him find you?
“Jesus, thank you for seeking me out, especially when I get myself lost in sin!” (Meditation on Luke 15:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Paul counters those pushing Jewish practices with his own experience as a faithful member of the tribe of Benjamin. The call of Jeremiah to be a prophet to the Gentiles is fulfilled by Paul. Friar Jude reminds us of the desire of Jesus to reach out to heal our brokenness and of the special attention of Luke to the role of women.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Michael Curry who reflects on the description of God’s expansive love found in the Bible.
Love is a commitment to seek the good and to work for the good and welfare of others. It doesn’t stop at our front door or our neighborhood, our religion or race, or our state’s or your country’s border. This is one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth, as the hymn goes….
Where selfishness excludes, love makes room and includes. Where selfishness puts down, love lifts up. Where selfishness hurts and harms, love helps and heals. Where selfishness enslaves, love sets free and liberates.
The way of love will show us the right thing to do, every single time. It is moral and spiritual grounding—and a place of rest—amid the chaos that is often part of life. It’s how we stay decent in indecent times. Loving is not always easy, but like with muscles, we get stronger both with repetition and as the burden gets heavier. And it works. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the encounter of Paul with Christ and reflect on the revelation of God in our lives that invites us to trust our brokenness to the Love of God.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15?1
Meditation on Luke 15:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/07/1124197/
Philippians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/3?3
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-takes-commitment/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov7
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