IF it is for a
good cause, we should not be afraid to
complicate our life. This is what Christ in effect told
us when he
talked about that shepherd who left behind the
ninety-nine sheep of
his flock to look for the one that strayed. (cfr. Mt
18,12-14)
We have to
develop this attitude of looking for a lost
sheep. This should be deeply ingrained in our system.
Christ reassured
us that our joy would be greater when we would finally
find that lost
brother or sister of ours. “If he finds it,” Christ said,
“amen, I say
to you, he rejoices more over it than over the
ninety-nine that did
not stray.” (Mt 18,13)
For this, we
should have the proper dispositions of real
and abiding concern for everyone. Once we notice, for
example, one of
our brothers or sisters, or friends or colleagues, kind
of straying in
some way, especially in the spiritual and moral aspects
of our life,
that’s when we have to give special attention to that
person, unafraid
of the challenge it would pose.
We have to
reassure ourselves that behaving in that way
would please God immensely and that he would give us all
the means to
carry out that task successfully. There may be great
difficulties
involved, but as long as we persist, we can only expect
success that
may come in ways and forms different from our
expectations.
God will always
have his own ways, and they can be
mysterious, even to the point that his ways can seem
contrary to what
we want. We have to be ready for this eventuality. That
is why we need
to be tough and not too delicate or sensitive as we go
through the
drama of the task. It would also help if we have a
sporting attitude
with a good dose of sense of humor to lighten the burden
of the
search.
We have to be
wary of our tendency to be contented with
simply looking after those persons who are more or less
okay
spiritually and morally. While we also have to watch over
them, we
should be more keenly vigilant over those who are lagging
behind or
are already straying from the right path.
Let’s take
comfort in the words of St. James in his
letter. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his
way,” he said,
“will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude
of sins.”
(5,20) These words should somehow convince us that
whatever sacrifice
would be involved in this task would be all worthwhile.
“Vale la
pena.”
Let’s remember
that whenever we are generous with God by
following his will more closely, God would even be more
generous with
us. We should not be stinting in this regard. We have to
give our all
in this task.
The Book of
Proverbs testifies to this truth. “One gives
freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what
he should
give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will
be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.” (11,24-25)
Of course, this
is easier said than done. We should have a
way of developing daily this concern for the lost sheep.
Are we
willing to leave our comfort behind whenever someone
needs help,
especially spiritual and moral help? Are we training
ourselves to be
more and more competent in handling the complex and
complicated
spiritual and moral issues of others?
Can we really
say that we have the mind of Christ who
presents himself as the Good Shepherd who always looks
for the lost
sheep? Are we convinced that by having that readiness to
look for the
lost sheep, we are becoming more and more like Christ?
Our
Christianity would not really be authentic when we
have no or little concern for those who are far from God.
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