MEMORIAL OF SAINT AMBROSE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, DECEMBER 07 OF 2021

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Mt 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:

“What is your opinion?

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,

will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills

and go in search of the stray?

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it

than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.

In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father

that one of these little ones be lost.”

REFLECTION

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?"

Practically speaking, leaving a whole flock to pursue one sheep doesn't make logical or economical sense.

The late Venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận wrote that Jesus had 5 defects:

First Defect: Jesus Does Not Have a Good Memory Second Defect: Jesus Is Not Good at Mathematics Third Defect: Jesus Did Not Excel in Logic Fourth Defect: Jesus Takes Too Many Risks Fifth Defect: Jesus Is a Terrible Financial Manager

When Cardinal Văn Thuận says that Jesus is not good at mathematics, he explains:

If Jesus took a math examination, he would surely fail it. A shepherd had one hundred sheep; one of them strayed. Without thinking, the shepherd went in search of it, leaving the other ninety-nine sheep. When he found the lost sheep, he put it on his shoulders. For Jesus, 1 equals 99, perhaps even more! Who can accept this? When it comes to saving a lost sheep, nothing can stop Jesus: risk, fatigue, danger … Think also of Jesus’ merciful gestures when he sits at Jacob’s well in order to seek out the Samaritan woman or when Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house! What simplicity; what love for sinners.

You wonder why Jesus has these defects? Because He is love (1 John 4:16). Authentic love does not reason, does not calculate, does not measure, does not put up barriers, does not lay down conditions, does not set up boundaries and does not remember offenses committed.

Many times I've wondered why Jesus himself has invited us, invited me to be part of the PAPA family. Why among the elect He has asked us to follow Him.

The answer is simple: Because He loves us.

He knows we are looking for Him. That we want to be with Him in Heaven one day. So he has gathered us in a family, and just asked us to do one thing for Him: Pray for my priests.

So we pray the PAPA Prayer for Priests daily. For their holiness, and those who are close to them.

Would you join us in helping sanctify our priests? Ask us how. We welcome all who love Christ, His Bride, the Catholic Church, and the Priesthood.

God bless y'all!