The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 “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? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 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.’ 7 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. 8 Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 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.’ 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The extent of God’s mercy for sinners is shown in these two parables. In the parable of the lost sheep, tax collectors and sinners listened deeply to what Jesus said. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ willingness to eat with sinners (Lk. 5:30-32) so Jesus addressed the parable to them. Shepherds in Jesus’ time worked in groups and if a sheep strayed one of the group went looking for it. A large flock would be owned by many peasant families or family members so finding a lost sheep would be an occasion for celebration (vv. 4-6).
In Jesus’ time bartering was more common among peasants than buying items with coins. Some of the coins used were the Greek silver drachmas (Mt. 17:27), the Roman silver denarius (Mt. 22:19), and the silver shekel of Tyre used to pay the Temple tax (Jn. 2:14). Windows in peasant homes were high, small and very few so if a widow lost a coin in her dark house, she would have to light a lamp to search for it. When she found the lost coin, it would be an occasion for she and her friends to celebrate (vv. 8-9).
God’s mercy has no limit, but repentance is necessary in order to find joy. Jesus calls all to repentance so they can participate in God’s love and joy. There will be great joy in heaven when sinners repent and serve God by trying to lead others to salvation. In this way they are participating in God’s joy (vv. 7, 10).
Almighty God, your Son called us to participate in your love and joy through our repentance and conversion and formed a community with leaders to shepherd and strengthen our faith. Through your boundless mercy, grant us the grace to willingly serve you as you offer salvation to all through your Son. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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