I HAVE FOUND MY ONE LOST SHEEP.

THE ONE LOST SHEEP. 

"The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, 

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 

So Jesus addressed this parable to them. 

“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 

‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, 

searching carefully until she finds it? 

And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 

‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 

In just the same way, I tell you, 

there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 1 - 10).

Thursday November 6 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture is from the famous Luke's Chapter 15. 

Jesus exclaims joyfully 

"Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." 

 Thank You Jesus for the lesson You teach us in this parable. 

You teach us the power of One. 

You have also reminded us of the power of the mustard seed. Help us to follow Your example, Our Good Shepherd.

"I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

The Communion of the Saints abound with many saints who were once the "one lost sheep". The patient love and mercy of Jesus pursued them, found them and brought them back. 

Here are some of these saints:

#1 Mary Magdalene

#2 Paul the Apostle

#3 Peter Chief Apostle

#4 Augustine

#5 Francis of Asissi

#6 Ignatius Loyola

Jesus is the Face of Mercy of Abba Father. 

 Mercy is the name and essence of God the Father revealed to us through His Only Son, Jesus the Christ.

 The open Heart of Jesus is the symbol and seat of Mercy.  

Mercy is promised to all.

To demonstrate that the powerful gift and message of Mercy that Jesus shared in His public ministry will remain in the Church after His Ascension, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation and gave His Apostles and their successors the power to forgive sins. 

To prepare ourselves to receive and retain Mercy, the ABC OF MERCY is very useful.  

It is called  ABC because, it is an acronym that can be remembered easily and secondly it is as simple as ABC.

A:  Ask for Mercy.

B:  Be Merciful.

C:  Completely Trust Jesus for Mercy.

God is rich in mercy and is waiting for us to turn to Him to blot out all our sins and receive us in His merciful love.

Mercy, mercy. Nothing but mercy!

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by."  (Psalm 57: 1)

"Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, 

look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent,

 but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself." (The Diary of St Maria Faustina, #950).

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

 “If during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in Purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.”-St. Paul of the Cross. 

For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html