Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
5 November 2026, Year A
Gospel Luke 15:1-10
There will be rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner
The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’
Reflection
Listening to today's gospel questions me. Would I really look for that one lost coin? To a point that I light up a lamp and then move all the furniture and sweep the floor? Go through all the trouble, just to try to look for that one lost coin? I probably wouldn't. And would I threw a party inviting neighbours and friends, just because I found the lost coin? I probably wouldn't. So when I was listening to today's gospel, it kind of didn't make sense to me. But I think it is in that nonsense where the message is.
I tried look at myself in the shoes of those sinners and tax collectors in the gospel today. I am aware that I didn't live such a good life. I am aware that I'm a sinner. I sometimes question if it my upbringing, and ask, "Oh, what did I get myself into?" Like that lost sheep, I thought that the grass is greener on the other side and decided to jump out of the fence, out of the herd, and ventured out, and realised that I'm lost. Now the sun is going down, it's getting dark, and from far away I can hear the howling of the wolf, and I know that they will probably come and hunt me down, and kill me. There is no hope in my life. And even the people around me, called me a sinner to reinforce the idea that even God has forgotten me.
Then I hear a story of this man called Jesus, and the more I hear about him, the story is quite unique. He doesn't sound like an ordinary man. He managed to feed 5,000 people out of nothing, and managed to cure all sicknesses and difficulties out of people's lives. And the amazing thing is that he managed to raise these dead people alive. What? I mean, I've seen magicians and people do their tricks, but never heard of someone who raises a dead one to life. So I get a feeling that this man is not a human. He sounds extraordinary, maybe from God.
Then one day, I hear that Jesus is coming to my way and I'm curious to see who this man is. And then he, out of all the crowd, looks at me and says, "Come down from the tree. I need to stay in your house." He also says, "Come and eat with me." And he says he is happy to have a dinner and meal with me. And this is me, who I know, and even other people say, "You're a sinner. I don't want to be with you." No one wants anything to do with me because I'm not the best person. Yet this Jesus says, "I want to have a meal with you. I want to stay at your house."
And he shares this story of a shepherd leaving 99 sheep behind to come and look for the lost one. The lost one... Me. The shepherd says, "Yes, I do have all those 99, but it is you that I care for. And I cannot even imagine the idea of a wolf eating you alive, killing you and ultimately losing you... So I come and search for you, does not matter if it to the highest mountains or to the deepest sea. I do not stop till I find you." He doesn't give up, until he finds me. And when finally he finds me, he is so happy. "You know what, I'm so, so, so happy. Come on my shoulder and let's go home." And he continues, "I'm so happy that I want to throw a party to tell everyone that I found you. And share this good news to all"
Just listening to today's gospel, I tried to imagine how those tax collectors and sinners felt when they listened to Jesus’ story. Through the nonsense, I think they felt this compassionate love of God, who still cared for them, loved them. It is a nonsense story, because love itself, doesn't always make sense. Would you sacrifice your only son, the one that you love, to save some bad people? Nonsense, right?
So I think today, in the end, it leaves us an option to choose whom I wish to be. There are two options. First is: I look at myself and compare to others like those pharisees and scribes in the gospel and say, "Oh, I go to church regularly. I pray sometimes. And oh, look at all this success and all the wonderful things that I have in my life." And think of myself as "I'm a good and virtuous man who does not need repentance." Or I can choose to see who I really am. A human, prone to failure. Yet see the love of God, who still loves me, calls me his joy. Asking me personally if he could come and stay at my house, at my heart. "This is my body. Would you take and eat?"