Daily Inspiration

“The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’  In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:1-10

No shepherd would abandon the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. But Jesus is no ordinary shepherd. In the presence of God, I knew He loved me beyond all human capacity for love. I knew that He loved me as if I were the only one He ever created, and I knew that He loved each soul in the same way.

God’s ways are above man’s ways, and what is impossible for the lowly creature is simple for the Creator. Christ goes out to the one lost sheep, because He loves it as if it is the only one ever created.

In His Passion, Jesus already placed the weight of each sheep upon His shoulders, but love does not force itself. The only difference between the righteous and the lost is that one chooses to be lifted up while the other chooses to remain lost forever.

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