Homily: Thirty-first Thursday of Ordinary Time

Thirty-first Thursday of Ordinary Time (Luke 15:1-10)

Chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke is a section of scripture which reflects on the great mercy of God. Luke chooses to use three parables. The parables are about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. We probably have heard a lot of reflections about the lost sheep and the prodigal son, but the parable of the lost coin does not get much attention.

The woman seems to have an overwhelming need to find this coin. Why was it that important to her? We can speculate that she was impoverished and that she wanted the coin which represented eating and not eating on this particular day. Most peasants live on the edge of things subsisting from day to day.

Another possible explanation might be that the coin had a special symbolism. When a woman got married in Biblical times, she would wear a special head dress with ten coins sewn in it. This represented her commitment. It was like a wedding ring. No one was allowed to take the headdress from a married woman even if there was a debt that needed to be paid. Perhaps the woman in question was about to get married so she needed the coin to complete her headdress. We can imagine how distraught she was. Today, it would be like a married person losing their wedding ring.

Finding the coin would not be as simple as we might first suspect. The homes in first century Palestine were small and dark. Usually there was only one window that would allow light into the common room. The floor was a dirt floor, and it would be covered with reeds. Looking for the silver coin would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. When it says in the parable that the woman swept the floor she was probably raking the reeds around. Perhaps she heard the coin tinkle as she did this.

We can better understand her joy in light of why this coin was essential either because of her poverty or because it was part a treasured heirloom. The feelings the woman had reflected the joy God feels when a sinner is reconciled.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Have I ever seen someone return to the church who was estranged from the church? How did I feel about their return?

2.    Did I ever lose something that I never thought I would find? What were my thoughts when what was lost was found?

Dear Parishioners,

          Our all Saints/Souls celebration will conclude with our Mass of Remembrance on Saturday at our 4 p.m. Mass. At this Mass we commemorate all those who had their funerals at Sacred Heart in the last year. Everyone is invited to come and pray for all the faithful departed. We read the names of all those who were buried by Sacred Heart clergy and give the families a candle. This is a very moving commemoration and another chance for our parish to minister to those in mourning.

          Remember that you can pick up pictures from our altar of the dead starting next Tuesday. They will be placed on the piano in the lower choir area.

          May the Immaculate Conception pray for us as the elections approach. 

          Fr. Mark