Daily Readings - Fri Jun 27 2025
Ezekiel
11"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.12As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.13And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.14I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
Romans
5and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Luke
3So he told them this parable:4"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful reflection on God’s boundless love and mercy. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear the Lord describe Himself as a shepherd who seeks out His scattered and lost sheep. This passage emphasizes God’s active care for His people, promising to rescue them from darkness and lead them to fertile pastures. It’s a vision of a God who does not abandon His flock but instead goes out to heal the broken, strengthen the weak, and bring back those who have wandered away. This imagery reminds us that God’s love is not passive; it is dynamic, seeking, and saving.
The second reading from Romans deepens this theme by highlighting the extraordinary nature of God’s love. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating the depth of God’s love. This passage challenges us to consider the radical nature of divine love—a love that gives itself even for those who do not deserve it. It reminds us that our reconciliation with God is not based on our worthiness but on His gratuitous love. The reading also invites us to glory in God, not because of our own merits, but because of the gift of salvation we have received through Christ.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. This story underscores the joy of God when even one sinner repents. It teaches us that every soul is precious to God, and His love is not limited to the righteous or the perfect. The shepherd’s joy is contagious, and it calls us to share in that joy by embracing God’s mercy and extending it to others. Together, these readings remind us that we are all sheep who have wandered at times, but God’s love is always seeking us, always finding us, and always rejoicing over our return.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s seeking love? Do we allow ourselves to be found, or do we resist His grace? Let us also consider how we can imitate this divine love in our own lives. Are we willing to go out of our way to care for others, especially those who feel lost or forgotten? May we find joy in the mercy of God and may we, in turn, be instruments of that mercy for others.