Welcoming the Lost, Honoring the Found

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is criticized by the scribes and Pharisees: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

My father, a Baptist preacher, used to say, “The Good Lord didn’t come down to spend time with the salt of the earth—He came to be with us sinners so we could be saved.” That message rings true in today’s reading.

Jesus responds to the criticism with three parables about lost things—a sheep, a coin, and a son. Each story teaches us something powerful about repentance and the joy of returning to God.

In the first two parables, the lost sheep and coin are actively searched for. The shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find the missing one. The woman turns her house upside down to recover a single coin. But in the third parable—the story of the prodigal son—the father doesn’t go searching. He lets his son go, giving him the freedom to choose. And when the son returns, the father runs to him, embraces him, and celebrates his return.

The older brother, much like the Pharisees, struggles to understand this grace. But the father gently reminds him: "We must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found."

This story reminds us that God doesn’t force us to return—but when we do, He welcomes us with open arms.

And yet, reading about celebration and rejoicing can feel difficult on a day marked by tragedy.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in my first month as a new principal in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. That day, 2,976 people from 93 nations lost their lives in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93. Since then, Patriot Day has become a time of remembrance and reflection.

We learned that day—and in the days that followed—that we are still a nation of community. We saw ordinary people become heroes. We witnessed unity, compassion, and resilience. We became more aware of our differences and more committed to understanding one another. We saw random acts of kindness and a renewed sense of patriotism.

But for many, Patriot Day remains a day of grief. And grief should never be rushed.

So today, as we reflect on Jesus’ parables and the events of 9/11, let us remember:
God’s mercy is always available. His compassion is always waiting. And when we’re ready, He welcomes us home.

Call to Action: 
Take time today to honor those we lost, support those who grieve, and reflect on your own journey. Is there something in your life that needs to be found again? A relationship, a purpose, a sense of peace? Know that God is waiting—not with judgment, but with love. And when you’re ready, He’ll be there to welcome you back.