Luke 15:1-10
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
God's Lost and Found
St. Luke's Gospel devotes chapter 15 to telling us about the lost being looked for, about finding the lost, and how the owners happily share their joy.
We can conclude that there are three types of loss:
Loss caused by someone who is not rational and is devoid of responsibility. This is illustrated by the lost sheep and the shepherd (vv. 4-7)
Loss resulting from the owner's forgetfulness or the negligence of a responsible party described with the woman and the silver coin (vv. 8-10)
Loss resulting from a conscious and deliberate personal choice, described by two prodigal sons and their loving father (vv. 11-32).
What do we glean from these parables? Among many other things, let us conclude and treasure the following:
God is the real owner and master of all, us included;
God's love will never abandon any lost thing or person;
He goes out looking for the lost as He did by sending His own Son to save and never to condemn;
He keeps trying to find and save the lost;
When the lost responds to the owner's endeavors, there will be great joy because the lost was found. They are back from death to life.
How do we apply this in our personal lives? Are we aware that now and then we are somehow or somewhere lost? Do we keep in mind that our Father is looking for us and wants us to hear His voice?
If we know of any that are lost, do we join with God in looking after them and trying to bring him/her back to spiritual and social life?
May we rejoice with those who restore their way to God's Kingdom. Amen