Thursday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time
Rm 14:7-12
Lk 15:1-10
“What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then…say, “Rejoice with me”?
For me, the parable of the lost sheep had always been about how Jesus loves a repentant sinner — and He always does — hence the effort to find the lost sheep, and the rejoicing that follows. Now, I have also come to realise that this parable is not only about God’s love, but also very much about us as the lost sheep — we whom God created so lovingly and intentionally, and we whom God loves eternally and infinitely; and about how we really really need to understand this love God has for us.
Not just 1 out of 100
It’s just 1 sheep, out of a hundred. It’s just 10 cents that you lost. It’s just 1 pen, 1 hair clip, 1 golf ball. Easily replaced and easily forgotten. For many of us, losing something not very significant is not a big deal for us. We either go without it, or we replace it. Unless it has sentimental value. Maybe to a shepherd or farmer, losing an animal is an economic loss, and so it hurts a bit. But animals or machinery can be replaced, even at a price. They are pretty much the same and serve the same function. Maybe if the animal was a pet, the sentimental value and emotional attachment would make the loss harder to bear.
The lost sheep in the parable is us. All of us, at some point, will be lost. We also feel rather insignificant at times. But the parable tells us that that is not how Jesus sees us. Yes, we are one of many, one of billions of people on earth; but each one is made lovingly, purposefully, intentionally, wonderfully, and fearfully. Each one of us is precious to Him. He loves us as if we were the only one around. We are all created in the image of God; we are all His children, and we will always be to Him the beautiful perfect child He created. And that is why the Good Shepherd will go through hell and high water — even death — to bring us home.
To belong to Jesus
Former Brazilian football player Kaka once wore a shirt proclaiming, “I belong to Jesus”. This was around the time he retired from playing professionally. We all belong to Jesus. And obviously we are all called to a life beyond accolades and riches and earthly achievements. We belong to Jesus and we are called to become like Him, to live like Jesus does, and to eventually be with Him in heaven.
In order for us to love as Jesus does, we need to be loved. Many do not feel this way. Many feel unworthy, undeserving, and unloved. This is because we are wounded. It is impossible to be unscarred by life. Even those living a seemingly charmed life also have deep wounds they don’t even know about, inflicted knowingly or inadvertently by someone else, or by their own actions. But we are still very much loved. Jesus is always with us, through the dark times and the joyful times. It is not the shepherd who is blessed to own so many sheep. It is the sheep who is blessed to belong to the Good Shepherd.
The other 99
Now that we have ascertained Jesus’ love for us, even when we stray, especially when we stray, what about the other 99 sheep left out in the desert? Like the older brother of the prodigal son, did they feel abandoned and unworthy? “Am I not good enough? Do I not make up for the loss of that one?” Feelings of inadequacy are common. Unfortunately, they are not normal, as these feelings are negative and hurt the way we look at ourselves. We hear testimonies of people healed from extremely deep wounds, and we wonder if we too can be healed the same way and if God is somehow ignoring us because we aren’t as badly wounded — we wonder if we are one of the ‘forgotten’ 99 sheep.
The thing is, we are all equally precious to Him. The point of the parable of the lost sheep is to highlight the lengths the Good Shepherd will go to in order to bring a lost sheep safely home. In the same way, the parable of the prodigal son highlights the yearning for a straying child to return. They in no way minimise or ignore the rest who have stayed.
Like I mentioned, we all take turns to become the lost sheep. Even if we do not go astray, we are nonetheless very much loved and treasured by the Shepherd individually, and we can count ourselves lucky we do not have to struggle through being lost. So do not begrudge those needing more attention. Instead, pray for them and pray also for ourselves, that we may come to see our blessings and our own rich inheritance that comes from belonging to Jesus as the other 99.
As His sheep, we can revel in the safety and security Jesus provides. At times, we wander off; but He will find us and bring us back. Each one of us is made lovingly and each one of us is loved intentionally and eternally. Look to our blessings, and trust that Jesus is always right there with us no matter what we are going through, no matter how far we have strayed.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the wisdom to know much you love us, how lovingly you made us, and how you are always reaching out for us. May we learn to see ourselves the way You see us.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank You for Your everlasting love for us.
OXYGEN 
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