Logic tells us that no person in their right mind would ever leave the ninety-nine! It simply does not make any sense. What if he doesn't find the one? What if the one sheep refuses to re-join the ninety-nine? What if he loses the ninety-nine? Why did Jesus present a losing argument to those whose intent was to find fault with Him? What was Jesus trying to do? Is Jesus out of His mind?

Everyone of us at times would find ourselves mindlessly saying something silly or irrational, for which we would regret after the fact, beating our breasts. Going back to Jesus' case, as if He were not dumb enough to present a losing argument before His enemies, He repeated the same losing argument three times by telling similar parables, only being progressively more ridiculous.

In doing so, it was as if He were inviting His rivals to "stab" Him.Do you believe that Jesus, as a Rabi (teacher), would repeat a losing argument three times? No! Jesus was revealing His deepest concern and love, and His identity as a good shepherd for the lost sheep, He was also revealing the Father's compassionate Heart and the reason why He was sent into the world.

Needless to say, the Pharisees and the scribes did not understand what Jesus was trying to say. Nevertheless, that same conviction and radical love shown in these parables foreshadowed Jesus and His Passion, His dying for the lost, for the sinners! Thus, in the end, these were no longer just parables, but a true story – the Father's Love, manifesting before our very eyes.

This sets the stage for what we are going to experience together during this Lent as we allow ourselves to dive deeper into the Parable of the Lost Son, into Jesus' Heart.

The Compassion of Jesus (Matthew 9:35-36)

REFLECTION

Do you, in any way, find yourself in doubt of the reckless love of our Heavenly Father as revealed to us by Jesus?

Are you willing and ready to allow Jesus to speak directly to you? Do you know how intense His love is for you? Are you ready to receive it?

TODAY'S PRAYER

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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