Gospel of the day

From the Gospel according to Luke
15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”

The Joy of Conversion

It fills us with joy to know with certainty how deeply God loves us. We may fall and lose our way countless times, yet He will always be there waiting for us with open arms, desiring only what is best for us.

We must always remain open to conversion. The Lord gives us the means through the sacraments. What a wonder — the celebration in heaven every time someone embraces the faith and is converted! And the same rejoicing happens every time we come out of the confession, our souls cleansed, grace restored — having recognised our sin, repented, and received forgiveness, renewing the friendship with God that sin had broken.

Through our own sacrament, as married couples, we too are given the grace to be converted again and again — every time we welcome our spouse as they are, ask forgiveness and forgive, accept them fully as the gift they are to us, and make small sacrifices of love and self-denial. In doing so, we prepare our souls for the ultimate encounter with God.

 

Brought into Married Life

Leo: Mary, have you realised the power of our sacrament? Through our mutual self-giving, we can see how we grow — and how those around us are transformed too.

Mary: Yes, it’s amazing. I love imagining the celebration in heaven every time the Lord, through the grace we receive, changes the world even just a little through us.

Leo: And imagine the joy each time a couple discovers the greatness of their vocation and their whole life is transformed.

Mary: Thanks be to God, there are more and more marriages like that — couples who, trusting in the grace they’ve received and aware of what they’ve been given, are unknowingly sharing in a little bit of heaven here on earth.

 

Mother,

We are weak and fall so easily.

Show us the grace of never tiring of conversion,

and let us share together the joy of heaven here on earth.

Blessed be the Lord for His infinite love that always rescues us.