Rochester, MN UCC - "Lost but Not Forgotten" - Luke 15:1-10

When Jesus’ teaching begins to attract tax collectors and other known sinners and undesirables, a group of Pharisees complains saying, “"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." These were not godly people, these were people who had chosen to go against God, to harm their neighbors and themselves. These were lost sinners and the Pharisees thought that Jesus should write them off just like everyone else did. 

 In response to their complaints Jesus tells two stories, about people who are unusually committed to lost possessions. A shepherd has 100 sheep. Upon losing one he leaves the other ninety-nine behind and searches unceasingly until he finds his one lost sheep. A woman with 12 coins misplaces one and spends the rest of the day cleaning and searching until she finds it. In case the Pharisees had missed the point, Jesus brings it home for them, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

 The Christian faith teaches the infinite value of each and every human being. Importantly this value is not based on our actions. We are not valuable because we have done right. We are not valuable because we have refrained from doing wrong. No, our value comes from God’s unconditional, eternal love for each and every one of us. Even when we are lost, we are never forgotten by God. Even when we’ve gone astray, we are still loved by God. God is just like the woman fretting over her lost coin. God is like the shepherd refusing to give up on his one lost sheep. No matter who we are, or what we’ve done, we are loved and valued because God chooses to love and value us. May we each hear and receive this truth in worship on Sunday and may we know that God values all of our neighbors just as God values us.       

 - Rev. Andrew Greenhaw