This blog follows the daily bible readings of the Catholic Church

Reading 1, Philippians 3:3-8a

3 We are the true people of the circumcision since we worship by the Spirit of God and make Christ Jesus our only boast, not relying on physical qualifications, 4 although, I myself could rely on these too. If anyone does claim to rely on them, my claim is better. 5 Circumcised on the eighth day of my life, I was born of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents. In the matter of the Law, I was a Pharisee; 6 as for religious fervour, I was a persecutor of the Church; as for the uprightness embodied in the Law, I was faultless.

7 But what were once my assets I now through Christ Jesus count as losses. 8 Yes, I will go further: because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss. For him I have accepted the loss of all other things, and look on them all as filth if only I can gain Christ

Gospel, Luke 15:1-10

1 The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him,

2 and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ 3 So he told them this parable:

4 ‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? 5 And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders 6 and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.”

7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

8 ‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? 9 And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost.” 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

The joy of God

Paul is angry that the faith of his converts is being sidetracked into the trivialities of an ethnic religion. He knows that the religion of his own people is much more than such matters, but he regards its bodily sign of belonging as utterly irrelevant to Gentile believers. His own “religious assets” he now sees as losses, in the light of Christ, so why should a new convert be bothered with them?

His clear-sightedness on this matter should be applied to all institutional trivialities and especially to all marks of denominational allegiance.

Jesus’ parable of “lost and found” are powerful indicators of the character of God who seeks out the lost person is filled with unreasonable joy when she is found. God enjoys his saving work. Representing this God ought to be a joyful task.