The Holy Gospel is by excellence God`s Book, which shows very clearly to all of us, to all the people, what is His will. Christ is the One Who speaks to us Himself with His Mouth bringing light and peace in our life. We`ll read the periscope of the Holy Gospel and explain the Word of Christ:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: `Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.`[1].
We see here that they approached Christ. Sinful men, publicans, prostitutes touched Him and ate with Him. And Christ received them with all His divine love and humbleness. But the Pharisees having selfishness and pride misinterpreted this. They considered very wrong the fact that He allowed the men whose life was sinful to approach Him and touch Him. But in this periscope our Lord and Teacher tells them they had no love, no humbleness, hating men and despising their neighbor and even if they were sinful themselves they considered themselves righteous.
We see Christ`s love spreading and welcoming joyfully all the sinners and saying:
`The publicans and prostitutes overtake you in their walking towards the Kingdom of God.`[2]
He wanted to emphasize that those about whom the Pharisees had such an impression and judged them would be the first ones to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. This kindness of Christ gives so much courage and hope! Who can state after these that he is sinful and God doesn`t forgive him and receive him?
And the evangelical periscope continues the story about the lost sheep.
`Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.` [3]
The man who had one hundred sheep and had lost one went far away crossing mountains and valleys, leaving behind the 99 sheep to find the lost one. And when he found it, he took it on his shoulders and brought it back to the flock having a great joy that he saved the lost sheep from the mouth of the wolf. He doesn`t have the same great joy for the sheep which are in the stable as for the one he had saved. In the same way God has a great joy and the Angels from the skies rejoice with Him for every lost soul who has found through repentance the path to salvation.
We are sinful. Let`s suppose our life lasts one thousand years and we live them in debauchery. We live the life of a robber, full of sins, filthiness and injustices. However if at the end of this life, in the very last moment we repent and ask for forgiveness, do you think God will tell us: `You`ve come now? You came back after you neglected Me? Go away, I don`t receive you ? ` God doesn`t do this at all, only asks from the sinful man when he comes back to remain steady in his return and repentance.
We all, from the highest in rank to the lowest one commit sins and are guilty before God. Each one of us sins in his way and offends God. No one makes exception. And here comes His wonderful mercy and covers everything. He doesn`t ask for anything else, only calls us: `Come back. Come back into the stable, go inside without looking back to what you owe me. Come to your senses, change your life, do not despair, do not lose your courage! The law of God`s love says that when a man repents there is no more debt, everything is erased because there is no sin to surpass the ocean of His forgiveness and greatness. Here lies His Splendor and Beauty! One of the beauties of God is this endless forgiveness He grants to the people.
[1] Luke 15, 1-7.
[2] Matthew 21, 32
[3] Luke 15, 4-7.
Excerpt from the book The Art of Salvation, published by Evanghelismos.
