Monday of the Holy Spirit; The Holy Priest-Martyr Timothy, Bishop of Prussa (361-63)
A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy. No fasting or abstention from foods.
Read
Ephesians 5:9-19; Matthew 18:10-20
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, today’s Gospel passage recounts the story of the shepherd finding his lost sheep. This Gospel parable tells of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find one who has become lost. It reflects the truth that for God there are no sheep who are definitively lost but only sheep meant to be found. Pope Francis in one of his reflections on this parable noted, “We must understand this well: for God, no one is definitively lost. Never! Up to the last moment, God looks for us.” This perspective, therefore, is dynamic, open, stimulating, and creative. It pushes us to go out in search of undertaking a way of fraternity.
For Christ Jesus who is the Good Shepherd of us all no distance, no obstacle, no danger is too great to search for the lost one. Finding who is lost is the joy of the Pastor, but it also must be the joy of the whole flock. We are all sheep who have been found and gathered up by the mercy of the Lord, called to gather together to him the whole flock! Let us pray today for those who are in need of being found by Him.