Luke 15:1-10 Trinity 3

The God Who Searches for Us**

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Luke’s Gospel, chapter fifteen, we encounter a profound scene. Tax collectors and sinners came to hear Jesus, while the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This man associates with sinners and eats with them." It is in reply to their murmuring and harsh judgments that Jesus shares two of the most touching parables found in Scripture.

Notice the people in the crowd. There are sinners—those aware of their waywardness, and there are the self-righteous—those who might not have strayed overtly but whose hearts have also drifted away. Jesus speaks to both groups, addressing every one of us.

The first truth we must grasp today is that the message of Luke 15 isn’t just for those who have made significant and visible mistakes. It speaks to every person present here today. Each of us understands what it means to be lost—be it through sin, sorrow, doubt, or the quiet aimlessness that life can bring. To each of us, our Lord conveys the message of a God who seeks us out.

The Lost Sheep**

Our Lord asks, “Which of you, having a hundred sheep, if you lose one, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it?”
Take a moment to reflect on that image. A hundred sheep, with ninety-nine safe and present. But the shepherd does not settle for the majority—he ventures out after the solitary lost sheep.

Notice, the sheep hasn’t done anything commendable—it hasn’t found its way back or called for help. Likely, it doesn’t even recognize the danger it’s in; it merely wandered off, distracted by one patch of grass after another.

Yet, the shepherd comes to the rescue. He searches diligently—the Greek word used by Saint Luke conveys a sense of earnestness in his quest. This isn’t a fleeting glance; it’s a purposeful search, continuing until the shepherd finds the lost sheep—not stopping because he’s tired or it’s late.

And when he does find the sheep, what follows? He doesn’t reprimand it or make it find its own way back as a lesson. Instead, he joyfully carries it on his shoulders, returning home in celebration. What is our Lord teaching us here? It reveals the heart of God—a heart that refuses to remain at a safe distance, hoping the lost will return on their own. It’s a heart that actively seeks, searching tirelessly until the beloved is brought home.

You Are the One Being Sought**

This encapsulates what our Lord wants us to understand today—not just that God sought the lost in a general, historical context, but that He seeks you. Right now. Today. There may be someone here who feels they have strayed too far, that enough time has passed, leading them to believe that while God may love others, their own distance feels insurmountable—their failures too many, and the silence too profound. To such a person, our Lord assures: the shepherd continues to search for you. The light remains lit.

There might also be someone who wouldn’t consider themselves lost—faithful in their duties, attending Mass, and praying —yet beneath the surface, they experience a spiritual dryness, a sense of divine absence. To this person, our Lord also says: you are being sought. The shepherd is aware of the difference between a sheep in danger and one that is simply weary. He comes for both.

It’s essential to note that in both parables, it is not the worthiness of what is lost that prompts the seeking. The sheep is simply a sheep; the coin is merely a coin. What drives the search is the love of the one who lost them. The shepherd's heart reaches out, not the merit of the sheep that draws him. It is the woman’s care for what is hers that ignites the search, not the coin’s value. You are sought because you are loved. That’s the essence of it. You are sought because you are loved.

**5. A Moment of Quiet Reflection**

As we prepare to enter the sacred mysteries of this Mass, I invite you to pause for a moment and dwell on this truth. Not to analyze it or measure yourself against it, but to simply receive it. At this very moment, the God who created you and knows you by name is moving toward you. Not because you’ve earned it or because you’ve found your way back, but because you belong to Him, and He will not rest until the lost are found.

The Psalmist expresses this beautifully, acknowledging that even in the depths and darkness, God is present. There is nowhere we can go, no abyss we can fall into, no silence we can experience where God is not already there, seeking us out.

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God,” our Lord tells us, over each soul that is found.May each of us in the stillness of our hearts this morning allow ourselves to be discovered.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.