Search And Find

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,

‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there  will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:1-10)

Interesting tale about the one lost sheep.  I wouldn’t leave my 99 sheep in the desert to find the one lost sheep.  I would put the 99 at risk.  It’s a desert for Pete’s sake! [Note: "For Pete's sake" originated as a substitute for "for Christ's sake," and other similar expressions. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "for Pete's sake" came into use more than a century ago and prompted similar sayings such as "for the love of Pete" in 1906 and "in the name of Pete" in 1942]

Sure, it would be great to find that one poor sheep.  By the way, how did it get lost?  It was with the other 99.  Was it abandoned for some reason?  Was it a Judas sheep thrown out for the good of the flock?  Did it repent for whatever it did to be “lost.”  

We all can appreciate how we can be “lost” through sadness, depression, or perhaps addiction.  Do we want to be found?  Fortunately, there are many who will seek us out and “find” us even when that means leaving behind the 99, and we do our best to hide and not be found.

Losing one coin out of 10 doesn’t create a moral dilemma as with the sheep example.  However, it does make me wonder.  Was it a penny lost with nine silver dollars still in hand?  Is it worth the hunt?  Who among us are like that one penny?  We feel small and worthless.  Who will bother to search for us?  The poor may feel this way.  We are to be like the woman searching for the lost coin.  Jesus would hold the flashlight helping us to find the coin lost in the dark.   

Some of us may feel like the penny.  Take heart.  For Pete’s sake, we have value, and there are many who would search for us.  Here at CTK we all must join the search and then rejoice when those who are lost are found.

Deacon David Pierce