Gospel Reading for June 27, 2025 – Luke 15: 3-7
UP TO US
Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: “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.”
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One may answer the question of Jesus depending on how much the shepherd loves his sheep. When he leaves the ninety-nine it does not mean he does not care for the ninety-nine but he doesn’t want to lose even just one of them.
The relief of finding something very precious to us that got lost is immense because the more precious it is, the greater the loss; the more the love is, the more the pain of losing is. This parable of Jesus is meant to make us realize how great the love of God is for all of us, his children. He does not want to lose even just one of us. This is why he did what seemed to be impossible for us humans – the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the sending of his Spirit upon us, to make sure we will be saved. We have the Bible where the teachings of Jesus are preserved. It is now UP TO US.
Lord Jesus, you are our Shepherd! May we never stray from you as long as we live!
