14th Sunday after Pentecost

“Jesus is the Relentlessly Searching Shepherd”

In the Gospel lesson today, we have two lost items: the first is a sheep and the second is a

coin. The parables aren’t concerned with how they’re lost, but how they are found. The

shepherd and the woman are both obsessed with finding their treasures again, frantically

searching for them until they are found.

That, of course, is exactly how our Father feels about us. When we wander off and find

ourselves lost in the wasteland of our own sin, our Father desperately searches for us. And

when we are found and forgiven, heaven throws a party to celebrate our return. Why else

would we have so much singing every Sunday morning?