24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, YR C
“Who are the Lost Sheep in Your World?”
September 12, 2004
by Fr. William Holtzinger

Today we are being given reflections in the Scriptures of repentance. God, in the first reading relents from wiping out the faithless Israelites. Paul reflects on how merciful God has been to him. Jesus tells stories about how God looks after the lost. All of these are stories of repentance.

The Scriptures offer us words of comfort and challenge.

Three years ago this weekend, we experienced, as a nation, the horror of terrorism when thousands of people were killed at the World Trade Center in New York City. Today’s readings offer us comfort in knowing that for those who were killed, those who were lost, God’s mercy searches them out. The world has never been the same since. But we are not to forget that terrorism has been part of our world for much longer than that. The challenge then is given to us who remain. What do we harbor in our hearts as a result of terrorism? Is it revenge? Is it hatred? Or is it mercy and forgiveness? This challenge is one that can only be met with the grace of God.

An example closer to home... In the past several weeks, there has been a lot of road construction going on in the area. The little road where the parish house resides was closed almost all Friday. Upon my return from grocery shopping I was told that I would have to wait 2 hrs. or more before I could drive down the road to the house. What has been your reaction to the construction? Anger? Frustration? These are understandable. Now think about how God feels when, knowing what is totally true and right, we choose the wrong path and sin. Does he yell at us as we might to a fellow driver on the road? Does he blame us as we might the flagger whose job it is to guide traffic through the construction zones?

The school year is upon us and our children are having to get up early, go to school, do homework, do their chores, and possibly go to practice for their sport in which they are involved. Students often get mad at their teachers, coaches, bus drivers, and fellow students. Our young people begin to pick friends and hang out with people they like. Again, a normal thing to do. But, as Christians, we are being called to love everyone, especially those who we see as the lost sheep. Students, do you reach out to your classmates who others make fun of? Are you willing to put your reputation on the line and show kindness to someone your friends don’t like? Jesus is asking us to do just that. It is hard. But, God has given us a helper, the Holy Spirit to give us courage.

We all need help in order to show the mercy and love that Jesus does. And so, I would like to invite all the students present today, kindergartners to college students to please stand where they are. And while they are standing, the rest of us can stretch out our hands in order to bless them....

Heavenly Father, bless all the students present here today. Give them the courage to stand up for you and for those who you see as the lost sheep. Maybe that person sits next to us in class. Maybe that person is you. Either way, Lord, give us the courage of your Spirit to show love, to seek out those who the world has shunned. Help us to be your hands and feet. Help us to be your eyes, ears, and voice of love. May God bless you all this school year. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.