OUR LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD
Introduction: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the triumph of the Holy Cross. Jesus was crucified in AD 33 and the original cross was lost for many years. By the efforts of St. Helena for many years, Holy Cross was re-discovered from the ruins in AD 326. Until the year 614, the main portion of the Cross was kept in Jerusalem. The city was invaded by Persians that year and the Holy Cross was taken to Persia. However, in AD 629, Heraclius invaded Persia and the Holy Cross was brought back to Jerusalem that year and where it is venerated. This feast was instituted by the Church to commemorate return of the Holy Cross to Jerusalem. As we celebrate this feast, we are reminded of the words of St. Paul that Jesus brought salvation to the whole world being obedient unto death on a cross. Thus Cross symbolizes our own redemption and the great sacrifice of the Lord for all of us.
First Reading: Exodus 32: 7 to 11 and 13 to 14
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1: 12 to 17
Gospel Reading: Luke 15: 1 to 10
*First reading is from the book of Exodus. The chosen people of God disobey the Lord God and go away from the love of the Lord God. They turn their back on their Lord and saviour who brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. They go after other gods and worship idols made of human hands. The Lord God wants to destroy the rebellious and disobedient people. But Moses pleads with the Lord God for the people of Israel who committed sins and became idolaters. The Lord God listens to the plea of Moses and spares them from destruction and punishment.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul recalls his sinful past and expresses his gratefulness and thanks to God and for the infinite mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. He affirms that Christ came into the world to save sinners. Through his own conversion Paul experiences the love and mercy of God.
The Good Shepherd Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus graphically illustrates for us the love and mercy of God for the least and the lost ones through two parables: The parable of the Good Shepherd and the parable of the lost coin. The Pharisees complain that Jesus is socializing with the sinners and the outcasts of the society. In this context, Jesus narrates the two parables. In the first parable, Jesus portrays God as a shepherd who has 100 sheep. When one of them is lost, he leaves the other ninety-nine and goes in search of the lost one. The shepherd goes after the lost one because of two reasons: First of all, the lost sheep by itself cannot find its way back. Secondly, the shepherd loves everyone of his sheep and he is greatly disturbed when one of them is lost. Similarly, the heavenly Father, when we His children go astray and get lost, is in great pain. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost one till He finds it. The second parable is about the lost coin. A woman has 10 coins in her possession. When one of them is lost, she searches diligently for the lost one till she finds it. The lost coin might be part of her ancestral possessions representing the most precious possession and her future security. (As suggested by some of the biblical scholars) She relentlessly searches for it until she finds the lost coin. When she finally finds it, she is filled with great joy. Hence, no matter how deep we fall or how far we wander from the loving and merciful God, He never ever gives up on us. He searches for us until He finds us. Everyone -the least and the lost- is very very important and precious in the sight of God. In the context, St. Augustine says: "There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future."
Conclusion: All of us, have had some experiences of being 'lost'. To be in sin is to be lost, to be away from the love of the Father. But we also have, had some experiences of being 'found' by the Lord, the Good Shepherd. In our world today, there are many 'lost' ones - lost morally, spiritually, in many and various ways of the world. Many of them are lost because there is no one to take interest in them, to love them and to guide them. We who have experienced the love and mercy of the Good Shepherd are expected to share that love and mercy to the least and to the lost.
May the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, bless you and may you experience His love and mercy everyday of your life. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/ Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, September 14, 2025." Thanks.)
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