24th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
September 11, 2022
Luke 15:1-32

Luke 15 is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and heart-moving chapter in the entire Gospel, even in the entire Bible. In this chapter, Jesus narrated three unforgettable parables: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the all-time favorite, the parable of the lost sons (better known the prodigal son). The three parables are given to answer the self-righteous Pharisees who questioned Jesus, ‘why is He close to the sinners?’

Surely, there are countless life-transforming insight in these parables, yet if there is one unifying theme is that extreme and unfathomable joy of repentance. The joy even goes beyond ‘human logic’. In the first parable, the shepherd was overjoyed for his found sheep after perilous rescue operation and even possibility of risking the life of other sheep. Yet, human logic tells us that losing one or two sheep is just normal, and the shepherd should focus his effort on the remaining sheep. In the second parable, the woman was rejoicing exceedingly for her discovered coin, and even invited her friends to celebrate the discovery. Yet, human logic tells us that missing pennies are normal, and throwing party with friends will cost even larger sum of money. It does not worth the effort.

The third parable even gives us a more outrageous figure. Human logic tells us that a man who demanded his inheritance while his father still alive, and cut ties with his family, no longer deserves to become part of the family. Even if he returns, and if his father receives him back, it is normally expected that the father would educate and discipline him. Even the lost son understands this well, as he goes back with intention to become a slave and save his life from hunger. Yet, the father does something beyond human imaginations. He joyfully welcomes his lost son and throws a big party. This outrageous act provokes the human logic of the elder son who angrily refuses to be part of the homecoming.

The real question is that why did Jesus give us three parables that defied human logic and expectation? The reason is that the value of repentance itself. From the human perspective, the three parables are illogical or at best, weird, but from the God’s eternal view, it makes perfect sense. There is immense joy in repentance because the value is, simply put, eternal. When one returns to God and perseveres to the end, he will have the life and happiness that are eternal, and other things are nothing compared to this end.

We are invited to become the shepherd of the lost sheep, the woman of the lost coin, and the father of the lost sons. Our mission is to bring people who are dear to us closer to God, and often this requires unparallel sacrifices. Yet, at the end, there is no greater joy to know we together with our beloved ones share the eternal life.

A Roma
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP