How do you treat those who are far away from the Church? - Daily Reflections November 6,2014

THE LEAST, THE LAST, AND THE LOST

 

There’s a joke about the seeming inability of the Church to be effective. The parable in today’s Gospel is reversed, i.e., only one sheep is inside the cage and the 99 outside. In the case of the coin, the woman is now looking for the nine coins while holding only one. Of course, this joke is the Church basher’s way of showing Her irrelevance and dwindling influence. But the parable was not about the ones mentioned. In fact, it was the reverse. God, through the Church, cares for all. Whether 99 or one, God still goes out of His way to look for the lost. Nobody is left behind. Later, He will die on the cross not for the holy few, but for all.

       I remember how my father, no matter what time he went home at night, would still take time to visit us in our rooms to make sure that all his eight children were accounted for. While there wasn’t a time when we were incomplete, I am sure my father would not have slept until the missing ones were back. I can deduce this because, during meals, we would not say grace until everyone was seated. God is like that. He will never stop until everyone has gone back to Him.

       This does not mean that those who have tried hard to obey God every day of their lives would be treated less. The response of the Father to the elder son’s question in the parable of the prodigal reverberates: “My son, you are here with Me always; everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). Instead of dwelling on what has been given to the lost, appreciate what you have with God. Also, the probability of being the lost one rather than the one under God’s favor is greater. When that happens, are you not glad to be given another chance and be welcomed?

       Many times we cannot fathom what God wants and does. Indeed, God’s ways are not man’s ways. His love is best expressed in forgiveness. Rather than analyze and criticize it, why don’t we just do it? In the end, what God wants should prevail — that all of us will be with Him. So be it! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you treat those who are far away from the Church?

 

Lord, give me a heart that embraces the lost, the least, and the last. At the same time, I pray that I may never be lost from Your sight.