Post-feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God; The Holy Apostle Philemon and those with him.
Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
1 Timothy 1:18-20; 2:8-15; Luke 15:1-10.
Read Luke 15:1-10
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We find two parables in which we hear of the rejoicing that comes after what was lost has been found.
Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep. If even one sheep out of one-hundred goes missing, the shepherd goes out to find it. Upon finding the sheep, he brings it back to safety on his shoulders and rejoices with his friends and neighbors. Jesus also tells the parable of the lost coin. A woman who loses a silver coin goes through all the trouble of lighting a lamp, sweeping the house, and searching until she finds that coin. Once she does, she celebrates with her friends and neighbors.
Jesus taught theses parables in response to the Pharisees and scribes complaining that the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Him and eating with Him. Being in the company of such “deplorables” would have been seen as “defiling” Jesus, but Jesus welcomed them all. These tax collectors and sinners drew to Jesus to hear His message, and He did not turn them away.
In both parables, we see that God searches for what is lost. God didn’t search for us by sending an ambassador. Rather, He became flesh and dwelt among us. Like the woman who lights a lamp to find her silver coin, Jesus, the Light of the World, illumines the world so that we may be found. In the Garden of Eden, God calls to Adam and asks, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). Of course God knew Adam’s physical location. In spite of knowing where we are, God searches for us. He does not force Himself upon us; rather, he welcomes us to draw near to Him and listen to Him, just as Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners.
Bible References