Romans 14:7-12 / Luke 15:1-10
To want to be in control does not mean merely to keep things in check and to have some stability in the situations around us.
More than that we want to be in control of the situations and the circumstances around us, such that we can alter the settings to our advantage.
It is just like how we want to be in control of our computers or gadgets. We don't often leave the settings as they are when we first get them.
We will fiddle around with the settings to suit our needs and our likings. That may be useful in that we can call it our personal computers and personal gadgets.
But when we transfer this need to be in control in order to alter the settings in our lives and even in the lives of others, we might run into trouble.
Because certain settings in life is not for us to alter or tamper or manipulate with.
The 1st reading states that the life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord.
It means to say that the fundamental controls of our lives belong to the Lord, and we cannot alter or manipulate those controls.
Having said that, the application of this principle is that we should never pass judgement on others or treat them with contempt.
In the gospel, this principle of control was violated when the Pharisees passed judgement on Jesus and they treated the tax collectors and sinners with contempt.
In response, Jesus told two parables that point to the heavenly joy over repentant sinners.
Yet at the same time, we are also reminded that eventually we will have to come before the Lord and give an account of our lives.
That is certainly inevitable and beyond our control. May we be able to give an account of our repentance and obtain mercy and forgiveness from the Lord.