September 12, 2010: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Look within yourself. The love of God is also within you!

People who were ordinarily shunned were all drawing near to hear Jesus. Some of the religious leaders murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:1-5)

This short passage is the beginning of several parables in which Jesus speaks of God’s love for all people, no matter what they have done.
Unfortunately the religious leaders didn’t get it. They closed their minds and hearts to Jesus and his teachings. They were stuck in their limited understanding of God and placed many burdensome rules on others in God’s name. They remained stubbornly convinced that they knew it all.

Action:

Read the parables in chapter 15 of St. Luke’s gospel.
These stories are about God’s love and forgiveness, especially the story of the prodigal son.
God loves you no matter what! In what way can you love others as God loves them?
Remember this, sometimes love may require forgiving a person who has hurt you.

Look around you. See and experience in people and all of creation God’s love. Look within yourself.
The love of God is also within you!