Lost

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ Luke 15:1-10

We are all lost at times. When things change on us, when our bodies fail, when we move from the familiar, we can feel alone, isolated and forgotten. We can also assume that our God has forgotten us when we feel this way. After all that has happened in the past few weeks, our hurt and isolation can only deepen. Today, we all need to be reminded that in the midst all of this, we are actively being sought by our Creator, God's love is fully engaged even when we have given up.

Loving Creator, our hope in darkness

you seek the lost and the frightened

you respond to our tears and our sighs

and seek us out when we have run away.

We assume wrongly that we are abandoned

we cry and ache about what we have lost

we think no one sees our pain and suffering

yet you never fail to take our needs to heart.

Lord, help us to turn and see your approach

let our hearts calm with your loving words

help us to look up and see your coming today

so we might share your love in our broken world. Amen.