Daily Readings - Fri Jun 28 2019

¹¹For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and I myself will visit them¹²Just as a shepherd visits his flock, in the day when he will be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep. And I will deliver them from all the places to which they had been scattered in the day of gloom and darkness¹³And I will lead them away from the peoples, and I will gather them from the lands, and I will bring them into their own land. And I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the settlements of the land¹⁴I will feed them in very fertile pastures, and their pastures will be on the lofty mountains of Israel. There they will rest on the green grass, and they will be fed in the fat pastures, on the mountains of Israel¹⁵I will feed my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God¹⁶I will seek what had been lost. And I will lead back again what had been cast aside. And I will bind up what had been broken. And I will strengthen what had been infirm. And I will preserve what was fat and strong. And I will feed them on judgment

Romans

Chapter 5

⁵but hope is not unfounded, because the love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us⁶Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious⁷Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man⁸But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time⁹Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him¹⁰For if we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, while we were still enemies, all the more so, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life¹¹And not only that, but we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation

Luke

Chapter 15

³And he told this parable to them, saying⁴"What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it⁵And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing⁶And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.⁷I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound theme of God's boundless love and His unwavering commitment to seeking the lost. In Ezekiel, we encounter God as the shepherd who leaves no sheep behind, emphasizing His care and hope for those who have strayed. This prophecy highlights God's promise to gather His scattered people, offering them rest and nourishment on fertile pastures, symbolizing His eternal care. The Romans passage deepens this message by illustrating the sacrifice of Christ, who died for us while we were still sinners. This unconditional love underscores the depth of God's mercy and the reconciliation He offers. Through Christ's life, we are not only saved from wrath but also brought into a loving relationship with God, a truth that brings us joy and glory. Luke's parable of the lost sheep personalizes this narrative, showing that each individual is precious to God. The shepherd's joy in finding the lost sheep mirrors the celebration in heaven over one sinner's repentance. This parable encourages us to seek the lost and to find joy in their return, reflecting God's own heart. In our daily lives, these readings call us to embody God's love. We are urged to seek those who are lost, whether through prayer, kindness, or compassion. Let us appreciate the depth of God's love for us and find joy in the opportunity to bring others closer to Him. May we reflect God's heart by being shepherds to one another, celebrating each return to faith with the same joy as heaven itself.