On the surface, the parables read in Luke’s gospel (Luke 15:1-10) about the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, seem to be telling us a story about diligence and responsibility. Take good care of your possessions and you will be happy. However, scratch the surface a little bit and there is revolution in these words. 

Yes, revolution! “How come?” you say. Well, first, let’s consider Jesus’ audience for this talk. He was with the tax collectors and the sinners. Yet, the Scribes and Pharisees were also listening and making their critical comments. ““This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2) They were appalled. This just was not done in this class structure. 

Then, Jesus tells these two parables in which he plays the role of the shepherd and the woman. This type of comparison was unheard of at this time. Shepherds were on the lowest rung of the social ladder. Women were worth even less in the view of the majority of the ruling class. They were used for serving and physical needs. For Jesus to represent God as a shepherd or a woman set the Scribes and Pharisees to run to their highest perch. They were shocked and overwhelmed. This could not be possible. They could not be so out of touch with God’s love and mercy. 

But they were. Jesus’ parables relate two stories of the importance of each and every person in the world, just substitute the sheep and coins for us. Good or bad; short or tall; rich or poor; black or blue and any other mixture of color. Each one is so valuable to God that He will search out and welcome back the sinner at any given moment.  And there will be great rejoicing at that time in heaven. 

 Now, I want to share a little story that Rev. Jill Rierdan told us on Sunday. Her little god child, John, was at the mall with his mother. Mom warned him not to stray from her side for obvious reasons. A little while later, Mom looked around and realized that John was not near her. She asked the people around her if they had seen him. “No.” She went to the Customer Service Desk and had him paged. No response. Now she was quite worried as he was only 5 years old.  

Realizing that John always knew where the car was parked (he was into cars from an early age), Mom went to the parking lot where she found a worried and tearful child waiting by the car. While she was delighted to find him and cuddled him closely, John was mad. “You losted me!” cried John. Too young to realize that he had “losted” himself, Mom was just plain joyous to have him back safe and sound. 

This is the way that God, who loves you unconditionally, feels when the lost return to the fold. 

Amen! 

Terri