See that you don’t despise one
of these little ones, because in heaven their angels always have the attention of
my Father. The Son of Man came to save what was lost.
“What do you think? If a man has
one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the
ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek the one who is lost?
When he has found it, he carries
it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his
friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found
my sheep which was lost!’ He rejoices over it more than over the
ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
Even so it is not the will of
your Father in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish. There
will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine
righteous people who need no repentance.
Or what woman, if she had ten
silver coins, if she lost one coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and
seek diligently until she found it? When she has found it, she calls together
her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin
which I had lost.’ Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
Reflections
One of the most common scenes
in stained glass windows shows Jesus, the Good Shepherd, carrying the lost
sheep. It is a great reminder that God cares not only for the multitudes, but
for each person, including “the least of these.” Are there people you tend to
think of as being unimportant and easy to ignore? Are there people who think of
you that way?
Prayer: Open the eyes of my
heart, Lord, to see the infinite value you place on every life.
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