The Gospel for the solemnity of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus is taken from Luke 15. Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes, what man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, would not leave the 99 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 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’ll be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance. The kingdom of God is more about finding something lost than perfection. What is lost is an awareness and experience of God inside of us, God living in us, His Holy Spirit resonating life and love and goodness to the world.

For one person to see that is more important than 99 who are just doing things that they’re told to do. It’s much more than doing what you’re told. It is about receiving what you need and even more frightening what you may have lost. Please reflect on these thoughts and after the music, I will close with a prayer. The image of Jesus carrying the sheep on his shoulders is a beautiful image of the care that God wants to give to each of us. When we wander, when we’re in danger, he’s there and he’s there to care for us, carry us, show us the way, help us to trust in this good Shepherd.

And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.