Rejoicing in the found ~ reflex on Lk 15:1-10

The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” But Jesus responds with two parables that reveal the Father’s true nature: He does not ignore sinners, He is not indifferent to them, nor does He wait passively for their return. Instead, like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep or the woman who sweeps her house in search of a missing coin, God actively seeks out and relentlessly pursues the lost, with a Heart longing for their return.

This is the essence of Divine Mercy - God’s unconditional and infinite love poured out for sinners, ever longing for each of us to return to His embrace. Jesus doesn't minimize sin, but He shows that God’s merciful love is infinitely greater than any sin. No matter how far we have strayed, no matter how confused our choices or how lost we seem (in our own eyes, or those of others), God’s mercy and compassion reach us still. He rejoices in ways beyond our comprehension when we are “found” and turn back to Him.

The joy in heaven over one repentant sinner reveals how deeply God desires our return. All of Heaven rejoices over His mercy, which we experience most directly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the confessional, we can know in a personal way the Good Shepherd Who carries us Home. Every time we repent of our sins, whether this is the first time or the 99th, no matter how routine or difficult our confession, we meet the merciful gaze of Christ, who says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

We are all called to receive this great gift of Divine Mercy, and then to extend it to others - to forgive others, to seek reconciliation, to bring hope to those who feel lost or unworthy, and to point to the loving Heart of the Savior. As disciples, we must bear and reflect the love that never judges prematurely, never gives up, and never stops reaching out with compassion.

Mercy is not earned; it is freely given. Mercy is Love reaching out to help all, because all are in need.

In a world often marked by harsh judgment, unforgiveness, and indifference, the truth of Divine Mercy draws us closer to the God Who searches for us, finds us, forgives us, and celebrates our return to His embrace. Let us trust in that Mercy and extend love and mercy freely to others.