God Is Always ISO (In Search Of)

The interaction today between Moses and God serves more as a contrast than a parallel with today’s Gospel. When God informs Moses of plans to start over again with Moses alone, and to let his wrath “blaze up against” the people for worshiping a golden calf, Moses has to remind God of the covenant’s promises.  God does relent. In contrast, Jesus embodies the mercy of God, who sent Jesus for our salvation. 

Jesus was sent to search out the one sheep who wandered off, to turn the house upside down to recover the misplaced coin, and to welcome back that deliberately lost son, allowing him the time to “come to his senses” and the freedom to choose to return home. Jesus is not the placating voice, tamping down  God’s fiery anger, but the Father’s obedient Son, doing the Father’s will by reaching out with mercy and compassion. As Paul writes, Christ came into the world to save sinners. We put our trust in this. 

We can see ourselves in any of these roles: one who wanders off, or becomes accidentally lost, or deliberately goes away—all of which leads to our being in a place we don’t belong, sometimes in a condition we are ashamed of. We can even be the one who doesn’t go off physically but whose heart is far from the  Father, living our lives in bitterness, anger, resentment, or a refusal to forgive.  Christ tells us his Father can’t wait for us to end up back where we belong—in our Father’s embrace. 

Consider/Discuss

• Do you need to be reminded of the Father’s great love for us all?
• Does God need you to seek out someone who has wandered off, or even gotten deliberately lost? 

Responding to the Word

Forgiving God, we join St. Paul in saying thank you for giving us Christ as a source of strength. May the words of Christ continue to move our hearts into knowing and trusting your love more deeply. Thank you for giving us a place at your table. To you be honor and glory.