Thursday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Bertilla, Abbess (7th century)

See commentary below or click here
Ludolph of Saxony : Come, seek your lost sheep

Letter to the Romans 14:7-12.

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).

Psalms 27:1.4.13-14.

Of David The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom am I afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD’S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD’S beauty, to visit his temple.
But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD’S goodness in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15:1-10.

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day :

Ludolph of Saxony (c.1300-1378), Dominican then Carthusian at Strasbourg
Prayers to Jésus Christ, CLD

Come, seek your lost sheep

Lord Jesus Christ, to teach us the summit of virtue you ascended the mountain with your disciples and taught them the Beatitudes and highest virtues, promising them the rewards applicable to each. Grant that my weakness may hear your voice, that I may apply myself through their practice to acquire the merit of the virtues so that by your mercy I may receive the promised reward. As I consider the payment do not let me refuse the effort of the labor. Make my hope of eternal salvation sweeten the bitterness of the cure, inflaming my soul with the splendor of your work. Out of the wretched person I am, create one of the blessed; from the blessedness here below lead me through your grace to the blessedness of the homeland.

Come, Lord Jesus Christ, in search of your servant, seeking your erring and exhausted sheep. Come, Spouse of the Church, in search of your lost coin. Come, Father of mercies, welcome the prodigal son returning to you. Come, then, Lord, for you are the only one able to call back the sheep that has strayed, to find the lost drachma, to reconcile the runaway son. Cone, that there may be salvation on earth and joy in heaven! Turn me towards you and grant that I may carry out a true and perfect repentance so that I may become an occasion for joy among the angels. Sweetest Jesus, I pray you, by the immensity of your love for me, a sinner, grant that I may love you alone above all things, that I may be consoled by none but you, my sweetest God!