The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, November 3, 2005
The Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
St. Martin DePorres

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Romans 14:7-12
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Luke 15:1-10


A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." (Luke 15: 6)

I began teaching high school students at a time when marijuana use first became prevalent and some students actually came to class "spaced out." When I attempted to speak with them, they insisted that it was a harmless diversion that helped them to "feel good." Their minds were so fogged by the drug and addicted to the pleasure it gave them that they ignored the illegality of their behavior, were oblivious to its consequences to themselves, their families and community. It was "secular humanism" in full bud that has now blossomed into a "me" generation that discards God and places "self" in His sovereign position.

St. Paul's letter to the Romans stresses a truth to which today's societies remain virtually blind. We are God's creation, His property, born of His love, to live in His love and to share His love with one another. However, He has given us free choice, for love cannot be forced on another. This is a wonderful gift but also a pitfall that tempts us to ignore who and what we are, God's precious children accountable to Him, our heavenly Father. So great is His love, that He sacrificed His Son for the forgiveness of our sins and gives us His Holy Spirit to unite us in holiness (love) to one another and to Himself.

Jesus, in today's Gospel is criticized by religious authorities for associating with sinners. These men were so blinded by their prideful self-righteousness that they did not realize themselves to be in a deeper sin than those who saw their wrong-doing, repented and sought God's forgiveness through Christ's teachings. Jesus' parables of the loss of a single sheep and one small coin show us that God extends His love to those who appear to be the most insignificant of His possessions but who allow themselves to be found.

Father of Wisdom,
shine upon the darkness of our sin;
illumine our hearts
and give us the courage to step out of
ignorance, selfishness and fear
and into the light of Your salvation.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)