Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Optional Memorial of Saint Pontian, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr

In one of my classes in seminary called “pastoral care,” a professor asked a question: “Is it okay for a priest to come to the home of a couple who are not married but living together? We all had different opinions; for example, the priest could not come because if he came, that would be a statement saying it is okay to live together without marriage. The majority of us agreed that It is not okay for a priest to be there. However, I was amazed by the wisdom of the professor.

He said, first, I know you guys care about the Church’s teaching and the integrity of the doctrine. However, if we understand what Jesus has done, especially the reading today. Jesus was always hanging out with sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Jesus loves sinners

Second, if the priest does not come to the house of the couple, then he would lose the chance to convert or minister to them. Jesus was always with the sinners, and he did not lose a chance to convert them.

In the parable, the shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine sheep to seek for the one lost sheep. This shows that our Jesus values each person as precious. In the eyes of God, no one is expendable. Every person is cherished, and every soul is worth the pursuit.

Our Jesus, who loves each of us with his infinite love, is the focus of today’s Gospel.

As we contemplate this parable, we are called to respond in several meaningful ways:

1. Recognize Our Own Value: We should understand and embrace that we are infinitely valued and loved by God, regardless of our past or current struggles. Each of us holds a unique place in God's heart.

2. Seek Out the Lost: Just as the shepherd searches diligently for the lost sheep, we are called to reach out to those who are distant from God.

3. Celebrate Reconciliation: It is essential that we share in the joy of reconciliation. When someone returns to faith or overcomes personal struggles, we should celebrate these moments with the same enthusiasm as the shepherd..

Let us pray for the grace to reflect this divine love in our own lives, to value each person as God does, to see each individual through God’s eyes, to love one another with God’s love, and to rejoice in the return of every lost sheep to the safety of the fold.

May God bless us.