Which is More important? 100 or 99 or 1

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Advent Season :  2nd Week : New Liturgical Year : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Mt 18:12-14*

*First Reading : Is 40:1-11*

*Which is More important? 100 or 99 or 1*

*1) The Parable of the Lost Sheep*

This parable gives us diffent numbers 

There is a reference for 100, there is a reference for 99 

There is also reference for 1 

Now the simple question is which is more important 100 or 99 or 1?

*2) The Number 100*

The Gospel gives us this number in the context of the total number of the sheep the person had 

So all these 100 sheeps were belonging to the owner and all of them were dear to the owner 

All 100 were very important and the owner didn't want to lose any one of them. So 100 has a special significance in today's Gospel as well as for the owner 

*3) The Number 99*

The Gospel also mentions this particular number 

These 99 sometimes seen in a negative sense, because it appears as self righteous sheep who needed no master's search 

But in fact these 99 didn't lose the way. They were on the right path. 

That's why the owner leaves them in a safe place and goes for his work 

It is not that he is abandoning the 99 for the sake of 1

*4) The Number 1*

The Gospel passage as it narrates, catches our attention on this 1 number

The passage also highlights the importance of this 1 sheep and thus the 1 sheep gets more importance

It does not mean other 99 are less important, but this 1 needed more importance. So the owner is giving more importance to the 1 who had lost its way 

*5) Weak needs special importance*

This is the logic of Jesus 

The world gives more importance to the powerful and those who are influential

But the logic of God is quite different. The strong needs no support because they themselves are able to sustain them 

The weak needs support because they can't sustain themselves 

So 1 needs more care, concern and importance than the 99 

*6) Whom do I give more attention and importance?*

This is a very important and genuine question of our life

Ultimately who do I support and help? 

Is it the powerful one, expecting something in return? 

Is it the lost, least, and unrecognized by the society, I give importance with the aim of uplifting them in one way or  the other?

What is my Choice? 99 or 1

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*