God was moved to mercy by the prayer of one faithful member (Moses) of an unfaithful race! His blessing will remain with this people, no matter how far they de-generate!

"Our sins are nothing but a grain of sand alongside the great mountain of the mercy of God!" (St. John Vianney). As Pope Francis says: "Mercy will always be greater than any sin; no one can place limits on the love of God. So let God give you the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 50th chance you need. Don't worry, He won't abandon you."

This is what Jesus tries to portray through the three parables of the "lost sheep" , "lost coin" , "lost son" . We are all lost sinners to some or greater extent. We have all gone astray...we cannot distance ourselves from one another. The "Good News" is that God entered our chaotic condition in his Incarnation! And Jesus enters our life in every situation. He spent his days among tax-gatherers, robbers, usurers, adulterers. Even the Twelve men he had chosen to be with him sinned! One denied him! Another betrayed and sold him to his enemies! Still others wanted positions of authority above anything else! Most ran away leaving him to face the tragedy of his passion So who does not sin? Can I dare to throw the first stone at another?

But God always repairs the damage we have caused to ourselves: like the Father who celebrates the return of his lost son. We are restored to our divine DNA.