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THE INCOMPARABLE JOY OF SAVING SOULS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: ROM 14:7-12; PS 26:1, 4, 13-14; LK 15:1-10

What is your attitude towards those who have left the Church, sinners and those who do not know Christ?

Many so called good and pious Catholics would condemn them. This was the situation during the time of St Paul as we read in the first reading today, where there was tension between the so called very strict Christians who would have nothing to do with food that was offered to idols and those more liberated Christians who felt that idols did not exist and hence they were at liberty to eat anything, since God had declared all food clean.

St Paul warns us about being too radical in cutting off sinners or condemning those who have not arrived at our level of faith. This has often been the tendency of self-righteous believers who are no different from the religious leaders during the time of Christ and St Paul. The immediate reaction is to excommunicate such ‘bad’ Catholics for bringing disrepute to our Catholic Faith. We think it is better to do without them; after all, they are a nuisance and difficult to live with.

This approach is one of protectionism. We are like the religious leaders who did not want to be contaminated by other sinners. They wanted to maintain their ritual purity. They sought to save their own souls but were not bothered with those who were lost in sin. We too want to live in an idyllic world, in the purity of the new kingdom. We are afraid that if they are allowed into the Church, we would be scandalized and our faith would be compromised. So we abandon the wounded who have left the Church and let them be. We make no attempt to bring them back. Out of sight, out of mind! This explains why the Jewish leaders were scandalized that Jesus would eat and drink with sinners, and even welcome them! They complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

But by so doing, we will miss out the greater joy of the gospel, which is to share in the joy of those who have found Christ, meaning and purpose in life. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we can remain as a happy and loving community without them. But how could we when we know that our loved ones and friends are lost in the desert of life? Indeed, it gives us much joy to be with our loved ones, but there is no greater joy than knowing that we have brought back the lost and wounded sheep, those who were walking in the valley of darkness.

The attitude of Jesus towards sinners was just to the contrary. As St Luke would tell us later, “the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” In the mind of Jesus, He came for one purpose, which was to save the lost, but more than that, to seek out the lost! How wonderful is the love and mercy of God! He was not simply contented to grant mercy to sinners who came to Him for forgiveness. On the contrary, He was always out there looking for sinners, searching for the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, in Luke chapter 15. He did not wait for the lost sheep to appear before Him, asking for mercy and to be readmitted to the Church or be accepted in the kingdom of God. Nay, Jesus did not stay in His office but went out to the streets, to the prostitutes, the wounded, the marginalized, those whom society condemns and write off. He was proactive.

Why did Jesus act in this manner? Simply because Jesus has the heart of God in Him! What is the heart of God? It is the heart of unconditional, faithful and forgiving love and mercy. In the eyes of God, every single soul is important to Him, regardless. Every life is precious to God, whether of an unborn baby, a child with disadvantages, the sick and elderly or a sinner. God sees all as unique individuals who need love and understanding. Hence, He feels much for them when they suffer, through no fault of their own, or the consequence of their own follies.

More than that, He does not pass judgement or condemn. We never heard Jesus condemning sinners. Even with the adulterous woman, He remained neutral and simply, with gentleness and compassion, reminded her not to sin anymore. Jesus only reserved the harshest words for the hypocrites, because their hearts were hardened. This was the same advice given by St Paul with regard to sinners in the community. He wrote, “This is also why you should never pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt, as some of you have done. It is to God, therefore, that each of us must give an account of himself.” So let us not judge the hearts of people. Each one has to give an account before the Lord. Only He knows our intentions, the full circumstances, our efforts, our sorrows and our ignorance. He takes into account all these factors and not just the deed itself.

Most of us have different levels of understanding and judgment of moral issues. So we cannot truly judge people who are not living the external demands of the gospel and the teachings of the Church. On the other hand, it does not mean that we do not proclaim the truth and the values of the gospel. The Church cannot compromise on the Bible’s teachings on the inalienable sacredness of life, the indissolubility of marriage, homosexuality, honesty, etc. Morality must be taught without diluting the truths of the Word of God. But it is another thing to pass judgement on others when they fail to live up to the standards of the gospel truth. They must follow their conscience. We need to pray for them and for ourselves, that we will be enlightened in the truth so that conversion and repentance can come from the heart.

Indeed, when we act in this manner, out of mercy and compassion, reaching out to the lost, wounded, confused and when we are able to touch their hearts and minds and bring them back to Christ, we too will experience a joy great beyond comparison to the man who found his lost sheep, or the woman who found her coin. To find the lost sheep is a great joy because it is the joy of knowing that that person is safe and sound. For the woman, that lost coin was part of her wedding dowry, and to lose it was not just a financial loss but a sentimental loss. It is like losing your wedding ring, regardless of how expensive it is, or not.

It is not to say that the rest who are well and safe are unimportant, but rather that all are important to us. No parent could be happy even if all their other children are doing well except for one black sheep in the family. It pains the hearts of parents to know that one of their sons or daughters is a wayward child and doing things to hurt himself or herself. Those who are already “saved”, we are of course happy and relieved. But if the one who is lost returns to the fold of the family, there will be great rejoicing because the joy of reunion is experienced by the whole family. There is also the joy of numbers, for joy is doubled when shared. This is what St Paul also wrote, “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord.” We all have a great influence on each other, for better or for worse, in happiness and in sadness.

So let us not miss out the joy of the New Evangelization, of reaching out to sinners, to Catholics who have left the Church because they have been wounded and misled; and those who are walking in the valley of darkness seeking for life. Let us lead them to the Lord, for as the psalmist says, “I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?”

Do not miss out the joy of saving souls. St James says, “If anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (Jms 5:19f) Indeed, the only way to protect your faith is to share it and witness it. In my life as a priest, it is when I minister to others and see the change in their lives, or when I preach a homily, knowing that I have enlightened and given hope to someone, that I experience the joy that comes from such a sacrifice. You too must not keep the faith to just within your own circle of friends, ministry members and community. Reach out and search for the lost sheep! He is waiting to come home! Lead him back to “the land of the living”!
Written by The Most Rev William Goh