hath a hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the desert[1], and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, doth he not lay it on his shoulders, rejoicing?[2] Then, coming home, doth he not call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost/ I say to you that even so[3] there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doeth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just that need not penance.”
COMMENTARY.
The Love of Jesus for us. By the simile of the Good Shepherd our Lord teaches us how great is His compassionate love for all mankind. All men, Jews and Gentiles, are His sheep, and He gave His life for all, being sacrificed on the Cross to redeem them from sin and hell. He is therefore the only Good Shepherd, and all others who are called to the pastoral office are good shepherds only so far as they imitate Jesus in their love and care of the flock confided to them. Moreover Jesus knows His own. He knows all about them, their needs, their weakness, their thoughts, their endeavours; He leads them into the fold of His Church, He helps them by His grace, He enlightens them by His doctrine, and nourishes and strengthens them with His Flesh and Blood in the most Blessed Sacrament. His pastoral love is, therefore, infinite and divine.
The following doctrines are especially conveyed by this parable:
The Sacrifice and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord distinctly foretells His Sacrifice and Death in the words: “I lay down My life for My sheep.”
Jesus is the Lord and Chief Shepherd of the redeemed. The sheep belong to Him, because He has bought them with His Precious Blood.
The One , United , Catholic Church. Our Lord foretold that the Gentiles also would believe in Him, and that all the faithful, both Jews and Gentiles, would be united in one fold, under one Shepherd. According to our Lord’s words there was to be only one Church, and this Church was to be united. It was not to be split up into a multitude of national churches in every part of the world, but was to spread itself
- ↑ In the desert. Out on the hills where there were no enclosures, but good pasturage.
- ↑ Rejoicing. He does not chide or chastise it for having run away, but carries it back lovingly to the fold.
- ↑ Even so. Our Lord now makes the application of the parable, saying that it is the same with God, His angels and His Saints.
