I did in fact get lost a few times! But He found me and brought me home safely!
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route since the 9th century. (Wikipedia)
When I arrived at the Chapel of Pilgrims I cried most deeply. I was home with the Father.
Greetings on this the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32
Notes: We have intercessors. Moses and Abraham and excellent intercessors.
Jesus the perfect intercessor.
The Lord does not want you to be miserable. He wants reconciliation as a Son to a Father.
And he wants us to have Great Joy!
These are the final expressions of each parable:
- Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!
- Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost!
- But now we must celebrate and rejoice!
Your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.
First reading
But Moses implored the LORD
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.
Responsorial Psalm
I will rise and go to my father.
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Second reading
This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.
Alleluia Verse
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Gospel Portion
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.
One lost Sheep among a hundred of them.
One lost coin among ten of them.
One lost Son among the two of them.
- He found himself in dire need.
- He tried to fix it.
- His efforts are nothing in comparison to forgiveness.
- Coming to his senses.
- Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
- Now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Celebrate and Rejoice!
Let us celebrate with a feast to honor the One who Saves and thankful those who are saved. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 