Our readings today are about “life in Christ Jesus.” The first reading from St. Paul to the Romans emphasizes that those who are baptized are truly dead to themselves and alive in Jesus - and that because Jesus died and rose from the dead - whether they live or die, they live in the Lord (for Christ is Lord of the living and the dead.)
Therefore, St. Paul tells the Romans, and he tells us: let us regard one another as brothers and sisters - without judging each other, without looking down upon one another! For there will come a day when we will be judged on the extent and quality of our “life in Christ” - life in love, life in service to our fellows!
In order to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living: we must simply LOVE!
The gospel passage today is about the wonderful celebration that takes place when one who has wandered away - for one reason or another - from God: the source of love, the source of care, the source of protection, the source of assurance of eternal life - is found! And everyone wanders away to some degree, from time to time! Having been baptized and initiated into “life in Christ” - there are many who drift away, become indifferent, become even hostile against the very creating hand that made them, redeemed them and wishes to nourish them throughout their journey in life. In their tempestuous and disordered lives, they need to be found!
Jesus came to this world to seek out such LOST souls! He came to find them, to gather them into his comforting embrace and to place them safely back in the center of the fold: the Church! The image of the Good Shepherd carrying a frightened sheep on his shoulders; the image of the woman searching for a valuable coin - relate God’s effort to guide us to where we ought to be!
But even though the sheep is recovered, the coin is found - unless provisions are made, they may wander away again, or become lost again!
It is important then to take whatever steps are necessary to understand what happens in the finding process. It is important to find out more and more about the One who found us! It is important to do as much as we can, using our free-will and informed and educated consciences, to live the life of one who is a restored member of the flock; a member of the Body of Christ; a member of the Church! Or we might end up worse off than we were before!
The joy in heaven over “the lost who are found” - and it is a very real joy - can be experienced right here on earth - when we share in the finding process according to the gifts given us by the Holy Spirit to do so!
Today may we let ourselves be found - and let us allow Jesus to find others - using us as his instrument!
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