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Lost and Found

2013-05-10 10:59 AM | Daniel
I once lost my car. I was living in Washington DC in an apartment. I had a car, but no garage or regular parking place, so I had to find parking on the street in a crowded neighborhood. There was no telling where I would find a space, and, of course, the location changed every day. As a rule, I was pretty good about remembering where I had parked, but one day, I did not see my car where I thought I had parked it.

 I walked up and down the block, on both sides. I walked around the block and looked in all the places I usually parked, but no car. Finally, I gave up. I decided the car must have been stolen. So I walked to the nearest police station, about eight blocks away, to report a stolen car. And--guess what?—while walking to the police station, I stumbled upon my car! You can imagine how happy I was. I was sure that it was lost, but now it was found!

Today’s Gospel reading is the 15th chapter from Luke. At the beginning of the chapter, we are told that tax collectors and sinners are drawn to Jesus. And Jesus ate with these sinners, thus incurring the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes. The religion of the Pharisees and scribes sought to avoid contact with those they deemed sinners in order that they not be defiled. But, as Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” [Luke 19:10] God is even “kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” [Luke 6:35]

 In response to the criticism of the Pharisees and the scribes, Jesus tells three parables about lostness. In the first parable, he tells of a shepherd who is missing one sheep from his flock of 100. The shepherd leaves the 99 sheep in their pen and goes searching for the one lost sheep. And he finds it! When he does, “he takes it joyfully on his shoulders and goes home to call his friends and neighbors, “Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep! In the same way, I tell you, there will be greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who do not need to repent.”

 This parable teaches that God goes in search of those who are lost. The fact that we are lost only stimulates God’s desire to find and save us.

 How many of you are shepherds? None? I thought so. But how many of you have had children?  Ah, most of you. If you went to the mall one day with your children and somehow one got separated from you, would you say, “Oh, well, I still have my other children” or would you go searching for the missing child? Of course, you would search for the missing child. Every one of your children is precious and you will not let any be lost.

 Then Jesus tells the parable of the lost coin. A woman who has 10 silver coins loses one, so she sweeps out the house and searches every nook and cranny—and she finds the missing coin. “And when she does, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says ‘rejoice with me! I have found the coin I lost.’” Jesus comments that “There is joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” This story teaches that God searches diligently for those who are lost and rejoices when they are found.

 In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd goes in search of a sheep who has accidentally gotten lost. In the next parable, the parable of the lost or prodigal son, the son deliberately separates himself from his father’s family, goes off to a far land, and wastes the inheritance that he asked the father for in advance.

 But when the son comes to his senses and repents, he returns home in humility to ask that his father treat him like a hired servant. And what does he find? “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him and his heart went out to him. He ran to meet him, flung his arms around him and kissed him.” The father does not condemn or rebuke the son for his misdeeds, but simply rejoices that he has returned home. The father doesn’t even seem interested in his son’s confession—he cuts it off. Without any scolding, the father exults in the son’s return, clothing him in the finest robe and sandals, and putting a ring on his finger. He calls for a feast with the fatted calf and with joyous dancing.

 But when the older son returns from his day working in the field and finds out what is happening, he becomes angry and refuses to go inside. And, note: the father pleads, yes pleads with him to come join the party. But the son refuses. He complains that he has always been a good, obedient son, yet the father never threw a feast so that he could celebrate with his friends. The elder son is stubborn and full of pride. He has trouble accepting his father’s answer, “My boy you are always with me and everything I have is yours. How could we fail to celebrate this happy day? Your brother here was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.”

 The father in this parable is like the Father in heaven that Jesus revealed to us. At the center of Jesus’ gospel is the Father in heaven, who loves each of us with an infinite love. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” [Luke 12-32] Also, “Your heavenly Father knows what you need” [Matthew 6:32] and “The Father himself loves you.” [John 16:27] In the Gospel of John, after Jesus’ resurrection, he appears to Mary Magdalene and says, “Go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” [John 20:17] So God the Father is not only the Father of Jesus, but he is the loving Father of each one of us. This is the Good News that Jesus proclaims, and, by faith, we can realize this saving truth. Thanks be to God!

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