7 November 2019 - lost and found

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Jesus comes to seek and to save what was lost (see Luke 19:20). He doesn't care that they are sinners. He seeks them out anyway. All those who are like sheep without a shepherd merit his compassion (see Matthew 9:36) and have a special place in his heart. He will leave the ninety-nine in the desert. They are not lost. They are united. They are like the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. They are safe. But Jesus can't abide the thought of the one lost sheep.

For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Jesus even leaves the land of the living to find and give life to those who died in the hope of the Messiah. He wants to be our LORD and the LORD of those who died as well. He wants there to be one flock under one shepherd (see John 10:16). There is no dividing wall he won't cross, gender, race, or nationality, even death won't stop him from seeking out and bringing back the lost. He will shine his light and not stop searching until all are found.

As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.

Jesus wants everyone to share the joy he has when the lost are found. The lost find the true purpose of their lives once they are found. They begin to dwell in the house of the LORD, gaze on his loveliness, and contemplate his temple. They have discovered the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Instead of being lost apart from Jesus they begin to lose themselves in his praise.

In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.

In what ways are we ourselves lost? The LORD is searching for us. He will light up the darkness to find us. He will leave the ninety-nine for our sake. We are called to share in his concern for the lost. To whom can we ourselves extend this mercy of seeking and finding? Who do we know that is lost and needs to be found? Perhaps Jesus wants to find them through us. It may take us away from the ninety-nine, away from safety. But if we are willing, they can be found. It is something so great that the angels themselves rejoice.