More joy in heaven

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. (Lk 15:4-7).

This past Sunday was an unbelievably good experience with Cardinal Gregory and the people of OLVP. One of my favorite moments happened just before Mass. I saw a gentleman walking into church that I had met the prior Sunday. He had introduced himself then as a “lost sheep”. We had a very nice discussion and he indicated that he would be returning to church and to our parish. As he was walking past me this past Sunday, he gave me a very warm smile. I shook his hand and greeted him by name, saying how good it was to see him.

He and I did not discuss this blog, so he may not know the importance to me of his “lost sheep” introduction. After seeing my smile and personal greeting in the stressful moments prior to Mass with the Cardinal, I hope he has some idea of the “great joy” described above in Luke 15. As much as I rejoiced with the hundreds of parishioners of having our Archbishop here for Mass and the blessing of the outdoor Stations, I (along with heaven) was filled with more joy over his coming back to the fold.