"What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray..... And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." (Matthew 18: 12 - 14).
Heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner. In Heaven, Every vote for Jesus counts. Sadly, I did not figure this out.
Many years ago, I was asked to teach Young Adults Confirmation Class. I prepared assiduously for it for a couple of months. On the first day of class, I was excited. Then the surprise. There was just one candidate. I engaged the young man for the the planned two hours. I had taught the same class for some years. Why was I not told that there would be only one candidate.
To make a long story short, I told the director that I could not continue.
A couple of Sunday after this, a lady met me after Mass and said: "I am Patrick's mother. I worked so hard to persuade my son to attend the Confirmation class. Now it is all for nothing."
Some time after this, I heard the reproach of the Master Himself from the Altar: "In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" (Luke 15: 7).
I confessed my sin and promised Jesus that in future, I will teach just one person, minister to one person. If every vote counts for the politician, and every dollar for the merchant, one soul should count for me.
"Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated." (Isaiah 40: 1).
Send Your Holy Spirit upon us O Lord to give us the courage to spread the Good News of Your burning love for us. Amen.
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