“And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy ...” (Luke 15:5.)
Saint Ambrose of Milan offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel proclamation:
“The shepherd is rich. We are his hundredth portion. He has innumerable flocks of angels, of archangels, of dominions, of powers, of thrones, of the others whom he left on the mountains. Since these are rational, they fittingly rejoice in the salvation of people. Although this also may be of benefit as an incentive to honesty, if each believes that his conversion would be pleasing to the hosts of angels, whose protection is to be sought and whose displeasure feared. Be a source of joy to the angels. May they rejoice in your return.” (Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 7.)
Collect
O God,
Who in the Heart of Your Son,
wounded by our sins,
bestow on us in mercy
the boundless treasures of Your love,
grant, we pray,
that, in paying Him the homage of our devotion,
we may also offer worthy reparation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Who in the Heart of Your Son,
wounded by our sins,
bestow on us in mercy
the boundless treasures of Your love,
grant, we pray,
that, in paying Him the homage of our devotion,
we may also offer worthy reparation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
