15. Who is it that says these things? Certainly He who, having left the ninety and nine sheep, went to seek that one which had wandered from His flock; as David says, “I have gone astray like a sheep which was lost,”58 Ps. cxix. 176. which being found Christ brings back, bearing on His shoulder the tender sinful one; and He, rejoicing and exulting, having called His friends and domestics, says, “Rejoice with me; for my sheep which was lost is found. I say,” says He, “unto you, that there will be such joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.”59 Luke xv. 6–10. And in continuation, He says: “Or what woman, having ten denarii, if she should lose one of the denarii, does not light a lamp, and all the day long clean out her house, seeking till 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 denarius that I had lost. I say unto you, that such joy shall be in the sight of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”60 Luke xv. 6–10. But, on the other hand, they who do not repent of their wickedness, let them know from the answer of the Lord Himself what remaineth for them; for we read in the Gospel, that “certain men came from the Galileans to the Lord, telling Him of those whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices; to whom the Lord answered, saying, Think ye that those Galileans had been sinners above other Galileans, because they suffered such things? No; for I say unto you, unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, think ye that they were debtors to death above all men who dwell in Jerusalem? No; I say unto you,” said He, “that unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”61 Luke xiii. 1–5.
XV. Quis ista loquitur? Utique ille qui relictis nonaginta novem ovibus, quaesivit illam quae de suo erraverat grege, sicut David dicit: Erravi velut ovis quae periit (Psal. CXVIII, 176); quam inventam Christus redit, humero suo portans peccatricem delicatam; qui gaudens et exultans, vocatis amicis et domesticis, ait: Congratulamini mihi, quoniam inventa est ovis mea quae perierat. Dico, inquit, vobis, quia tale gaudium 1216Aerit in coelo super uno peccatore poenitentiam agente (Luc. XV, 6-10). Et subjungens ait: Aut quae mulier habens denarios decem, et cum perdiderit ex denariis, unum nonne accendit lucernam, et tota die domum suam emundat, quaerens donec inveniat? Et cum invenerit, convocat amicas et vicinas, dicens: Congratulamini mihi, quoniam inveni denarium quem perdideram. Dico vobis, quia tale gaudium erit in conspectu Angelorum Dei super uno peccatore poenitentiam agente. E contrario autem non agentes facinorum suorum poenitentiam; quae eos maneant, ex ipsius Domini responso cognoscant. Legimus enim in Evangelio: quod quidam venerunt de Galilaeis ad Dominum, annuntiantes 1216Bei de eis quorum sanguinem miscuit Pilatus cum sacrificiis ipsorum: quibus respondit Dominus dicens: Putatis quia illi Galilaei super caeteros Galilaeos peccatores fuerant, quia passi sunt talia? Non. Dico enim vobis: nisi poenitentiam egeritis, omnes similiter perietis. Aut illi decem et octo, super quos cecidit turris in Siloa, putatis quia debitores fuerunt morti super omnes homines qui habitabant in Hierusalem? Non. Dico vobis, inquit, quia nisi poenitentiam egeritis, omnes similiter perietis. (Luc. XIII, 1-5).