Posted by The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr Rodel Liguid SVD – Bonn, Germany
Tuesday 2nd Week of Advent
One thing I learned in German culture is that one must learn to have one’s own opinion and freely express it regardless of how others may feel.
In the gospel, I suppose leaving the ninety-nine in favor of one sheep will not be a popular and acceptable decision because the risk is too high, and the price is too low—one against ninety-nine is simply absurd.
And yet the shepherd left the ninety-nine to seek the one lost sheep. Once the shepherd found the lost one, he rejoiced more than he did over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
When we go against the popular view of today‘s world, we risk the possibility of being ridiculed or hated by assuming the mentality of the shepherd who does not want to leave anybody behind, who puts value and importance on every sheep. Sinners, illustrated by the lost sheep, are worth every trouble and effort finding, welcoming, and leading back to the fold of the ninety-nine.
Faith is not about what I think and what my opinion is. It is allowing the gospel, in this case, the shepherd’s attitude, to challenge and purify my own opinion so that eventually the way I speak and act corresponds to that of the good shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.
As St. Paul exhorts: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom 12:2).
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