Congratulamini | Rejoice

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ – Luke 15:6

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Luke chapter 15 has a set of three parables that are very well-known. We read about the joy of those who find what was lost and the joy in heaven due to the sinner that repented. It is interesting that the Gospel of Luke has more words connected to joy than any other.

Chapter 15 opens with the setting of tax collectors and sinners eating with Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes murmured because Jesus was having meals with those that were outside respectable society. The rest of the chapter flows from this setting. In the first ten verses of Chapter 15 we read two parables about two lost items: a sheep and a coin. Those who seem lost, can still be saved. The public celebration and joy when a sinner repent is very prominent from this section.

Throughout Scriptures, the Lord is compared to a shepherd. Jesus also calls himself the good shepherd in John 10:11- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In the first parable in Luke 15, the shepherd does not wait for the sheep to come back. Instead, he actively searches for his lost sheep. Maybe he was also calling the sheep while searching. What a joyous moment when he does find the one lost sheep. The shepherd does not rejoice alone. He invites his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him. All about this one lost sheep. This parable brings indeed a message of hope.

The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep while searching for the lost one. Jesus illustrates that one sheep is important, no matter what. As we read in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

After the lost sheep is found, the shepherd does not punish the sheep. Depending on how long this sheep was lost, it is probably very tired, thirsty and even hungry.  But the shepherd places the sheep upon his shoulders and carries him back. This illustrates the compassion of the shepherd. We can always trust Jesus to help us carry our burdens and give us rest (Matthew 11:28-29). Then there is the invite by the shepherd to rejoice with him. Unlike the Pharisees' murmuring, we should be rejoicing when a lost sinner repents.

In John 10:27-28 we read: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” The good Shepherd gives us eternal life. As long as we are part of His flock and follow Him. Also, our Shepherd is always near. Whether we are in the green pastures, the waters, among enemies or in the valley. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4).

Let’s share the Good News and rejoice with the Shephard when lost sheep are found.

Reflection on Luke 15:1-10 by Hanne Teach

(Listen to podcost here)

 

Temptatus | Tested

" Because he, himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." - Hebrews 2:18

Photo by Karl Magnuson on Unsplash

How can a person tell his or her experiences of being loved if in their whole life it was just suffering that they experienced. How would Jesus help us, who are undergoing trials, if Jesus had never suffered any trials? The development and changes in one's life come because of the frequent experiences, obstacles, and trials it faces. These are the colors that give the meaning of true love and a sacrifice. 

" Because he, himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." As we reflect on this sentence, we should be grateful and glad that no trials cannot be accomplished. No obstacles we cannot pass through if we always believe in Christ's love and sacrifices. Christ himself was tempted and He won over everything because of His great love for us. Death means nothing at all to Him , even though He had to humble himself a little lower than angels to rescue us who sometimes have lack of faith. 

Maybe we have heard of a song called "True Colors". For me, this song has a deep meaning - a resolve to stay calm and not to flee away when trials come. A call for us to be bold in expressing the true colors of God's love, a sincere cheerful smile, and our trust in the Lord. We must courteously abandon our egos, all our anxieties, and all our intentions that go against the will of God.  This is the cross of love that we must bear. The Lord Jesus always reminds us to trust and just call Him up, because He is always there to lighten the burdens of our lives.

Reflection on Hebrews 2: 1-18 by Sr. M. Venidora, SND.

(Listen to the Podcast here)

Venite ad me (Mt. 11:28)

When we are sick, we need to rest. After work, we want to relax. It's obvious and natural. We know this process very well. However, we sometimes forget that not only our body can be exhausted but also our soul. We pay attention and check the temperature of our body. But how to take care of our soul? How to know that our inner part is in need?

Jesus invites us to come to him and wants to help us. For sure we cannot live without him. Moreover, we are not able to understand ourselves without Christ properly. For that reason, we ought to be close to Jesus. We often labour and are overburdened. We look for the rest in the Holy Spirit. 

And Jesus does not teach us that we should give up. He does not tell us lies. On the contrary, he says: "Take your cross and follow me. Yes, you can. I will give you strength. On your own, you will probably fall down. But if you become humble and gentle in your heart, you will find rest for your soul".

When your soul is similar to Jesus' soul, you are the strongest. Your power does not come from you, but from your heavenly Father. From this moment, everything happens to be easy. 

You are a child of God. The beloved child who is always in God's hands. You are never alone. Jesus Christ lives in you and the Holy Spirit abides in you. So you are to praise the Lord, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Only in him you will find resting place for your whole being - for your body and your soul. 

By Fr. Jozef Trzebuniak SVD. 

Venite ad me (Mt. 11:28)

Christ is our example. God doesn’t give us an “out” in times of weariness and exhaustion. When He was cursed, He blessed. When needy crowds pressed in relentlessly, He made Himself available. When they were hungry, He fed them. When they needed correction, He lovingly but boldly gave it to them. When they hurt Him, He forgave them. When He needed sleep, He pressed on. When He suffered, He kept the eternal picture in mind. He kept you and me in mind.

Our burdens may feel anything but light today. God is not trying to make light of our circumstances. He wants us to see our circumstances through His light. We are not helpless or forgotten in our times of need. Jesus knows the number of hairs on your head. Why would He take such care to count them if they were not precious to Him? Don’t allow an hour to go by before taking your cares to Jesus. Because the Bible is our Daily Bread, we become malnourished spiritually if we neglect it. Spending time with the Lord refreshes our spirits and strengthens us to face both our trials and our triggers.

If we feel triggered by the weariness and exhaustion of our circumstances, we won’t be able to combat our anger and frustration until we lay our burden down at the feet of Jesus. Jesus asks us to learn from Him. To take note of how gentle and humble He is. In the same way that our angry reactions typically spark even bigger angry reactions in our friends, neighbors, spouses, parents, or maybe boss. Jesus’ gentle and humble spirit rubs off on us, producing a supernatural steadiness of heart and mind.

As we give our weariness to the Lord, His gentleness becomes our gentleness. His humility is reflected in our own. As we grow in character, exhaustion gives way to strength upon strength, equipping us with the ability to overcome the temptation to lash out in frustration.

The followers of Christ never have to operate on empty or be quick to anger. We are promised the fruit of supernatural strength and given an example in the person of Jesus Christ.

The heart filled with godly character has very little room for angry reactions. Let’s accept the invitation to “come” to the Lord and find rest for our souls by demonstrating gentleness and humility in our daily life.

By Martha, Brisbane.