Luke 15:1-10
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
So he told them this parable: ‘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? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
‘Or what woman having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
Are we rejoicing and celebrating with God when God restores what is lost to life?
In today's passage, we hear two parables that are rather famous: the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. In many ways, the actions of the shepherd make no sense – to leave the vast majority of the sheep that are helpfully sticking around the fields to search for the lost one? Or the level of rejoicing over the lost coin: is that proportional? These parables convey the heart of God and the ministry of Jesus. It is not about securing what is already "safe" or "secure" or "righteous." But it is about bringing everyone home. God's mission doesn't demarcate those who are worthy of love or living the fullness of life – all are, and God is in the business of tracking them down. What will be our response to God's graciousness, God's overwhelming and overflowing mercy? Too often it seems to build up the walls of the sheepfold when we should be out looking with God for those God loves and wants to bring home.
May we learn to celebrate with the joy of the Kingdom when God brings someone home. May we learn to go with God and God's love to invite all back home. And may ourselves take up God's gracious invitation of return whenever we find ourselves as the ones lost.