31st Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 5th November 2020 — Gospel: Lk 15,1-10
Heart for the Outsiders
Jesus never excludes anyone from his presence, but he has a special affection for the poor and the outcasts. His affection for the outsiders is reciprocated, that is why Luke introduces this section with a phrase, “all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.” They are attracted to him because he welcomes them and is willing to eat with them. Some religious leaders criticize Jesus for his choice of company, and they disparagingly identify him as the one who “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” To eat with tax collectors and sinners is like eating with untouchables. It would render a person unfit to take part in the Temple service. The religious leaders were shocked to see a religious teacher like Jesus incurring ritual “impurity” by associating freely with such outcasts. Jesus, therefore, defends himself against their attacks by narrating the following parables. Through these parables Jesus explains that the possibility of finding the lost is the reason why he always welcomes and cares for outcasts. Jesus searches diligently until he finds the lost one. And this is the nature of the merciful God, which Jesus wants to present to them. God who doesn’t write off the outcasts but wants to save them by all means and for that he goes to any extent of getting back them.
