Here is part of today’s Gospel reading, from St Luke: ‘Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost”. Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents’.

St Gregory of Nyssa comments: ‘This, I suppose, is what our Lord sets before us in the search after the lost piece of silver, that no advantage attaches to us from the external virtues which He calls pieces of silver, although all of them be ours, as long as that one is lacking to the widowed soul, by which in truth it obtains the brightness of the Divine image. … For the lost piece of silver, that is, the royal image, is not entirely defaced, but is hid under the dirt; … this being diligently wiped away, that is, washed out by a well-spent life, that which was sought for shines forth.

God and His holy angels rejoice over each step of repentance that we take – this can be done  privately or, most importantly, in the sacrament of reconciliation, when everything is wiped away and we can truly begin afresh.

May God bless you in all your endeavours for Him, and may God bless you this day.