杏MAP导航

The Lord guides His people, comforts them but also corrects them and punishes them with the tenderness of a father, a shepherd who "carries the lambs in His bosom and leads the ewes with care". This was the heart of the homily of 杏MAP导航 Francis at Mass as he reflected on the Parable of the Lost Sheep, asking how the Lord comforts and corrects us. 

The first reading from the Book of Isaiah speaks about God鈥檚 consolation for His people Israel as "a proclamation of hope". "Comfort, give comfort to my people,", the prophet echoes the words of God saying the tribulation of Jerusalem is over and her guilt is expiated. 

Sinner in the Lord鈥檚 bosom?

The Lord always consoles us, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, provided we allow ourselves to be consoled. And God corrects with consolation, referring to the passage from Isaiah, that speaks of the Lord as the Good Shepherd, who gathers the flock with His arms, carrying the lambs 鈥渋n His bosom鈥� and leading the ewes with care. Drawing attention to the words 鈥渋n His bosom鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said it is an expression of the tenderness with which the Lord punishes, corrects and consoles us. 鈥淐an you imagine, in the bosom of the Lord, after having sinned?鈥� 

The 杏MAP导航 said that the Lord punishes with tenderness and caresses. This attitude that neither didactic nor diplomatic is a joy that comes from within Him when a sinner approaches Him. 鈥淚t is joy that makes Him tender,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

The Prodigal Son 

Speaking about God鈥檚 tenderness, the 杏MAP导航 recalled the Parable of the Prodigal Son, whose father longs for his return. And when he does return, the father cuts short his son鈥檚 repentance speech and starts celebrating. 

In the Gospel too, the shepherd who returns with the lost sheep and rejoices over it more than over the 99 that were not lost. This, the Holy Father said, is the joy of the Lord when we sinners approach Him and allow ourselves to be forgiven. It is a joy that turns into tenderness and comforts us.  

The Lord鈥檚 tender caresses

Many times, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, we complain about difficulties when the devil wants us to fall into the spirit of sadness, embittered by life or our sins. 

The 杏MAP导航 noted that many times we complain and think that our sins, our limitations cannot be forgiven. It is that moment when we hear the voice of the Lord, 鈥淚 comfort you, I am near you", which overwhelms us with tenderness. The powerful Creator of heaven and earth, the God-hero, so to say, our brother, who allowed Himself to be carried to the cross to die for us, the 杏MAP导航 said, is able to caress us and say, "Do not cry".

The widow of Nain

With what tenderness, the 杏MAP导航 wondered, the Lord must have caressed the Widow of Nain when he told her not to weep when she was in front of her son鈥檚 coffin. This consolation of the Lord, he said, is the grace of forgiveness.

When one sins and makes mistakes, the 杏MAP导航 said, one should allow oneself to be consoled by the Lord. Ask for forgiveness, be courageous, open the door for Him to caress you with the tenderness of a father and a brother. 鈥淟ike a shepherd He feeds His flock, in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, leading the ewes with care鈥�, so the Lord comforts us,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.