Readings

Romans 14.7–12 – We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Luke 15.1–10 – All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

Reflection

In our reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read these powerful words:

“None of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.”

Paul reminds the Christian community that our lives are bound up with one another — and with Christ. We belong not to ourselves, but to the Lord who both lived and died for us, and who rose again. That means that every moment of our life, from beginning to end, is held within the loving sovereignty of God.

And because we belong to Christ, we are not called to sit in judgement over one another. Paul urges the church in Rome — and us — to resist the temptation to measure others by our own standards of faithfulness. For, as he says, “we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.”

It is a humbling reminder that the only opinion that ultimately matters is God’s — and God’s judgement, as the rest of Scripture shows us, is shaped by mercy.

This theme of divine mercy flows beautifully into our Gospel reading from Luke 15. The Pharisees and scribes are grumbling because Jesus welcomes tax collectors and sinners. And in response, Jesus tells two short but profound parables — of the lost sheep and the lost coin.

Each story begins with something missing — something that matters deeply to the one who has lost it. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek out the one lost sheep. The woman lights a lamp and sweeps her whole house in search of one small coin. Both characters search persistently, almost recklessly, until what is lost is found.

And when they find it, they rejoice. They call their friends and neighbours together to share their joy.

Jesus tells us that this is what God is like. God’s heart is not indifferent or distant. God is the one who seeks, who searches, who does not rest until the lost are brought home.

For us, that means two things:

First, it means that we ourselves are never beyond the reach of God’s mercy. However far we may wander, however lost we may feel, God never stops looking for us. There is no situation, no mistake, no failure that can place us beyond the light of God’s searching love.

Second, it means that we are called to share in that same spirit of mercy. Just as Paul urges us not to judge one another, so Jesus shows us a God who does not write anyone off. Our calling, as the Church, is to reflect that same generous heart — to rejoice when others are restored, rather than resent it.

It is tempting, sometimes, to be like the Pharisees — to draw lines between the respectable and the sinners, the found and the lost. But Jesus turns that distinction upside down. In his kingdom, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who think they have no need.

So today, as we gather around this table, we are reminded that we belong — not because we are perfect, but because we are found.

We come together as those who live to the Lord and die to the Lord, trusting that his mercy holds us all.

And we are invited to share God’s joy — the joy that bursts forth whenever what was lost is found, whenever grace triumphs over judgement, and whenever love restores what was broken.

Amen.