Unearthing Joy: God’s Pursuit of You
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him. But the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he 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 silver coins and losing one of them would not light a lamp and sweep the house carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the silver 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.”
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace of radical trust in God’s relentless love and pursuing forgiveness, and the courage to share in His divine joy by actively seeking out and welcoming others who are lost or alienated.
Reflection
As you read these parables from Luke’s Gospel, let the imagery sink deep into your soul. Imagine yourself as that one lost sheep, wandering off, perhaps unwittingly, perhaps deliberately, into the wilderness. Feel the chill of isolation, the growing fear, the sense of being utterly alone. Now, picture the Shepherd. He doesn’t simply shrug and say, “I have ninety-nine others.” No, His heart aches for you. He leaves the security of the flock, enduring discomfort, searching tirelessly, relentlessly, until He finds you. When He does, there’s no reprimand, no scolding, just the immense tenderness of being lifted onto His shoulders. This is how Jesus loves you – with a persistent, compassionate, and unwavering pursuit. He has impacted my life by showing me that even when I feel utterly lost, His gaze is fixed on me, His arms are open wide.
Or consider the woman and her lost coin. A small coin, easily overlooked, but to her, it’s precious. She doesn’t give up. She lights a lamp, she sweeps every corner, she searches diligently until it is found. This woman’s meticulous search mirrors God’s meticulous care for every single detail of your life, including your deepest wounds and your most hidden sins. He knows your worth, even when you feel worthless. His desire to restore you is so intense that He will turn over every stone, shed every light, to find that lost piece of you and bring it back into the light of His love.
What truly strikes me in these parables is the joy—the exuberant, overflowing joy that erupts when the lost is found. “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!” “Rejoice with me because I have found the silver coin that I lost!” This isn’t just relief; it’s a celebration of reunion, a testament to the immense value God places on each and every one of us. This is the heart of our Trinitarian God: a Father who yearns for His children, a Son who seeks out the lost, and a Holy Spirit who fills heaven with rejoicing at our return. It confirms for me that God desires to forgive me, not grudgingly, but with a passionate longing for my embrace.
And this joy, this desire for reconciliation, is not meant to be confined to heaven. Just as the Shepherd shares His joy with friends and neighbors, and the woman with hers, so too are we invited into this divine celebration. Having experienced the profound mercy of Jesus in our own lives—the way He has lifted our burdens, illuminated our darkness, and restored our worth—we are now called to echo that joy and extend that invitation to others. Our participation in God’s mission begins with our own deep acceptance of His forgiveness, which then compels us to become instruments of His seeking, finding, and rejoicing love in the world.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Celebrate Small Victories: When someone in your life makes a positive step, no matter how small, genuinely acknowledge and celebrate it. This mirrors the heavenly joy over one sinner who repents.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post