No matter how lost we become, God is always there

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:12-14), we hear the story about the shepherd. Jesus asks the question, “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray?” Today’s message is one of good news and hope. No matter how lost we become, God is always there to help us find our way back. God wants us all in the kingdom of heaven and does not want us separated from him. Today’s message is truly good because Christ tells us that the Father in Heaven wants everyone to be part of the flock. God is sad and worried when one of his sheep is lost. A sheep is a very social animal and needs the protection of the shepherd. If it gets separated from the flock, it panics and becomes disoriented. It will not eat and becomes susceptible to wolves and other wild animals that prey upon them. The shepherd knows that he has to look for the sheep before something bad happens to it. This is the same thing that God does for us. And when he finds his lost sheep, “he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.” If we fall, God does not get mad at us, but instead he worries about us. He knows that when we are separated from him that we are alone and disoriented so he reaches out to us with arms to pull us back. God does not want us separated from him. He wants us with him in his loving arms. God seeks us out constantly. He forever wants us in his flock What does he do when we return? He rejoices and celebrates like the father did when the prodigal son returned home.

A Simple Prayer Lord, you are my shepherd. Guide me when I am lost and gone astray Guide me when I can not find my way back I desire to be with you at all times.

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon