“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:7)

This passage is excerpted from the communion hymn of the today’s mass, and it matches today’s Gospel theme. Chapter Fifteen of the Book of Luke has coherently tied together the three parables of Jesus about God’s mercy and love, namely the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The conclusion that Jesus had arrived in the Parable of the Lost Sheep was that “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” The conclusion for the Parable of the Lost Coin was that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.". In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, it was ended with the words of the father that “For this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found; we had to celebrate and be glad!”

As evidenced by the quotes above, the joy of God is related to our ability to repent and turn to Him. Repentance is based on renewing our promise to strive for kindness and love, as well as having trust in Jesus’ mercy.