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What is the point of Jesus’ story about a lost sheep and a lost coin? In Jesus’ time shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic, and become easy prey for wolves and lions. The shepherd’s grief and anxiety is turned into joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us the basis for the cost of discipleship. There are three basic conditions for discipleship: subordination of everything, even family in order to make a commitment to Jesus; acceptance of the cross-the imitation of Jesus; and the relinquishment of all possessions in order to possess and be possessed by Christ alone.

We hear in our First Reading from the Book of Sirach: “My child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are and you will find favor with God.” Serving with humility is so very difficult for some people. There are those who are always looking for accolades and “pats” on the back.

The last line in today’s Gospel reads: “For behold, some are last who will be the first, and some are first who will be the last.” We must always remember that even the snail made it on to Noah’s ark! There is a lesson in humility to be learned here.

We have passed the mid-point of summer and have been concentrating on the summer’s readings taken from the Gospel of Luke. The focus has been on the practice of discipleship and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. This practice ignites a burning message in today’s Gospel. There is a cost to discipleship: suffering, division, and even rejection.

True and deep faith in God can be elusive, even for those of us who attend Mass regularly. We have so much to do with so little time to do it. Faith in God is key to our existence. We have numerous tasks and pressures, yet all our work must be done in the context of a mature, and maturing, faith.

In Jesus’ time, respected Rabbis were often called upon to settle disputes. When a man approached Jesus regarding a quarrel over the family inheritance Jesus refused to intervene in this shameless argument about money. He then began a long discourse on the nature of material possessions. Jesus warned His disciples to be on guard against greed, since one’s life did not consist in an abundance of possessions. Notice that Jesus says, “Guard against all greed.” Could this apply not only to material wealth, but also our knowledge wealth as well?

oday’s readings focus on prayer and hospitality. All who knock on the door of the Church are to be invited and welcomed with holy hospitality and led through full conscious and active participation to live out one’s Baptism. We as the faithful of God have a special role in offering hospitality by inviting all within the community to share their gifts and talents. We have a duty from the “streets to the seats” to provide hospitality to all who enter Corpus Christi Church.

Jesus had been teaching His followers about the privilege of being a disciple and now He did something radical for His day — He taught a woman. When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to the words of her master, Martha criticized her for neglecting to help her to provide hospitality for their guest. Jesus reminded Martha that she was too anxious about things of little importance. The one thing that should concern her was “to seek God’s kingdom before all else.”

The Parable of the Good Shepherd is one of the most well known parables. The message of this parable is clear and obvious: regardless of what culture or religion we are from, we should be willing to help people in need, even if they are different from us. Some say this parable is the most moving parable in Scripture.

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” We are constantly on a journey. Jesus was on a journey towards Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to prepare the way, but one village refuses to receive Him. He rebukes His disciples for wanting to punish them by fire. He says to the others: “Follow me.”

For those in ministry, serving a worshipping community for any length of time can be a challenging task. Many of us can remember a time when we were on the receiving end of a critical comment. Maybe it was something we said or how we treated someone that triggered a negative response. Whatever the reason, few things rattle our nerves more than a complaint from the pew.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, our Parish Feast Day. Historically known by the Latin name, Corpus Christi, it celebrates the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in The Holy Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

When we are having a bad day and feeling down and out, we have all heard someone say to us: “God never gives us more than we can handle.” They mean well but it really may not help the situation. We do know that in the midst of turmoil or rough times, God knows our strengths and weaknesses and will never abandon us. This is the great mercy He shows to us.

On the Seventh Sunday of Easter, we always read from the 17th Chapter of John’s Gospel. In today’s reading, we hear Jesus ask that the unity He experiences with the Father be extended to all who believe in Him.

Do you know the peace which surpasses all understanding? In His farewell discourse Jesus grants peace as His gift to His disciples. What kind of peace does He offer? The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good.

When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to proclaim the Good News, they had made a considerable amount of new disciples. They told these new found followers to persevere. “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, our Scripture Readings provide us with comforting assurance of God’s solace in the challenging moments of our lives. It may be a sudden illness, a terminal cancer diagnosis, a child who suffers from drug addiction, a difficult co-worker, or death of a loved one or friend. In our daily encounter, sometimes turbulence knocks us off balance. The Good Shepherd offers us patience and tranquility.

The Risen Lord had a tremendous impact on the disciples. For us, the readings speak of the meaning of discipleship both in our internal attitudes and in our relating with other people. How often do we recognize the presence of God and of Jesus in our daily life? How often do we witness to our faith with consistency and courage?

We are a people who need to see things before we believe. We share many doubts when we are told that something happened and we are not present to see it for ourselves. Amid the joys of the Resurrection, today’s Gospel leads to doubt in things unseen. How do we relate to Thomas in our faith?