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Jesus Christ: Prophet, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Savior and friend; He is known by many names. The birth in Bethlehem of this beloved spiritual Master marks the beginning of the Western calendar; so important was His influence on humanity. Lord Jesus taught God’s love and forgiveness to all people with open hearts. He is especially loved and remembered because of His sacrifice to cleanse the sins of His disciples and of the world. Three days after His crucifixion, He arose from the dead, as witnessed by some of His disciples. Today, we will read from the Gospel of Luke, which depicts how Jesus, from His birth to His death and resurrection, unfolded God’s covenant and Kingdom on Earth. The Cost of Being a Disciple “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said: ‘If anyone comes to me and is not ready to abandon father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me, cannot be my disciple. ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ ‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have, cannot be my disciples.”The Parable of the Lost Sheep “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’”
