REJOICE WITH ME FOR I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP
LUKE 15:4-10
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.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
REFLECTION
Jesus is a master story teller. In this parable Jesus tells the unbelievable story of a shepherd leaving most of his flock to search for one missing one who has probably been eaten by a wolf. That shepherd would soon be fired. But the point of God’s love for each and every one of us is unmistakable. Praise God!
What kind of God do we have that will go after just one person…Thank God who seeks until one finds God again.
He knocks until we open the door…no matter how far away or how long…God never stops calling us home…Hear Him…Listen to Him…
Repent and be saved…the kingdom of heaven is at hand…Come home…
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
MATTHEW 25:14-30
“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.* He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
REFLECTION
God gives gifts to us according to our ability/personality and according to God’s plan for salvation…Do we bury these gifts…keep them for ourselves or are we light to the world…
God created us according to His Holy will.. each different with special gifts that display God’s glory…God’s gifts are super abundant…
What are my gifts…how am I sharing them…do I bury some….do I reject some…
Do I gift others…This little light will shine, Let it shine, Let it shine
Let us hear one day, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter my kingdom