GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 24, 2022

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Gospel: Lk 15:3-7 

3 Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

 Throughout the Gospel, we witness Jesus’ receptive attitude toward sinners, with whom he freely and deliberately sits in table-fellowship. It is not human sinfulness that bothers him, but the pretense to be righteous. Biblical “righteousness” is a covenant-related term, which means being in a right relationship with God. It is a status that no one can attain for oneself. It can only be conferred by God on those who recognize and admit their helpless state of sinfulness. The lost sheep is the image of a sinner that longs to be sought, found, and restored to the fold. God does not frustrate that deep longing. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus speaks to us of God coming gently to meet the sinner and encompass that person in an embrace that restores him/her to a right relationship with him. This intimate meeting place is none other than the heart of his Son, the place of greatest tenderness

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us, sinners! Amen