Year C -
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rejoice with me.
Luke 15:1-32
1 NOW the publicans and sinners drew near him to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
3 And he spoke to them this parable, saying:
4 What man of you that has a hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing:
6 And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?
7 I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that does penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.
8 Or what woman having ten silver coins; if she loses one, does not light a candle, and sweeps the house, and seeks diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin which I had lost.
10 So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner who repents.
11 And he said: A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of inheritance that belongs to me. And he divided unto them his inheritance.
13 And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his inheritance, living riotously.
14 And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine.
16 And he desired to fill his stomach with the husks the swine did eat; and no man gave anything to him.
17 And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I perish here with hunger?
18 I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you:
19 I am not worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.
20 And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, I am not now worthy to be called your son.
22 And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and be happy:
24 Because this, my son was dead, and has come to life again: was lost, and has been found. And they began to be happy.
25 Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and was close to the house, he heard music and dancing:
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him: your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in. His father therefore came out and began to entreat him.
29 And answering, he said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve you, and I have never transgressed your commandment, and yet you have never given me a kid to be happy with my friends:
30 But as soon as this, your son has come, who has devoured his inheritance with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf.
31 But he said to him: Son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours.
32 But it was fit that we should be merry and rejoice, for this your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The message to repent is my strongest message; to see a sinner coming back to grace gives me the greatest joy. Repentance is the result of my word, and the benefit of that new life is salvation. I was very happy amidst sinners because my conversation brought them to repentance. I was highly criticized for doing that, but let me assure you that my joy was great when someone gave up his or her sinful ways to follow me.
So my joy is even greater than that of the shepherd who loses his sheep and then finds it, or the woman who loses her valued coin and then finds it or the joy of the father of the prodigal son who welcomes his son back after he has repented.
I am the Saviour of the world and my greatest joy is to bring salvation to souls. Every one is of great value to me because everyone has cost me my life. I will insist throughout the life of every person to declare my love openly until the soul understands my call and falls in love with me. I am willing to forgive because this is the perfection of my merciful love. I don’t look at the sins of anyone, I look at a soul that is perishing and needs my healing love. My nature is to be merciful to all. No exception.
Come to me all of you who are overburdened with sin and guilt, let me heal your souls, let me renew you with the infinite healing power of my merciful love; let me restore you to peace, love and joy. Repent of all the sins of your past life, meditate on the damage that you have caused to your soul and on the insult you have given to your God, think that if I did not forgive you, you would be totally lost; see me suffering and shedding my blood for you, see me crucified for your sins and come to me for forgiveness. Say the words of the prodigal son, “Father, I have sinned against you and against the world, I don’t deserve to be called your son, forgive me” Those words will be sweet to my ears, I will look at the humility of your hearts, at the sorrow that you feel for your sins and I will grant you peace and inner healing that will let you live a life in keeping with repentance.
Pray for your brothers and sisters to come to me too, all of them need me. Give testimony of my Divine Mercy to everyone and encourage them to live a holy life. I have prepared a new world of joy for all those who are willing to contemplate my sufferings as a way of amending their lives. My sacrifice is the great offering of my love for you, come to the altar of my suffering and receive my love.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
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