7 November 2024
Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 15:1-10
Desire for a ‘pastoral heart’

The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin reveal the heart of God, who seeks out the lost with relentless love. Pope Francis reminds us that these stories reflect the essence of apostolic zeal—the passion to reach those who have wandered away, not with condemnation but with a heart that suffers, longs, and takes risks for them.

In his latest encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Francis reminds the faithful that God’s heart is not passive or indifferent. When one of His beloved children is lost, He doesn’t just stay with those who are safe; instead, He goes out to find the one who has gone astray. This pursuit is neither convenient nor logical; it’s an act of love that bears suffering and risks rejection.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect this same longing. When we encounter someone who has drifted from the faith, do we react with indifference, or do we see an opportunity to witness God’s love gently? Evangelisation is not proselytising or insisting others become “one of us” but sharing the joy of God’s love with an open, compassionate heart.

Jesus calls us to be shepherds for others, not simply caretakers of ourselves. We are invited to carry His message of mercy and forgiveness to those in our lives who may have felt forgotten, rejected, or distant from God. May we ask for the grace of a pastoral heart, a heart that suffers, longs, and risks for others, so we can truly embody the love of Christ and bear His message to all who need it.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2024