The gospel reading for today is the entire 15th chapter of Luke. It seems to be all about lost property: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. Jesus told these three stories in response to the Pharisees who accused him of associating with sinners, namely, those who had lost their way.
But these parables are not about being lost; they’re about being found, and each one emphasizes the joy of the finder. To be exact, they’re about God’s joy in finding what was lost. Remember, Rejoice! is the key word at the end of each of these parables. God rejoices to find what was lost!
These parables teach about the heart of God.
They show us vividly that God cares about each one of us: he will not rest if only one sheep is missing, one coin is lost, or one son has strayed. They show us that he cares deeply enough to go out of his way to save us when we’re lost. It was certainly an inconvenience to go after the foolish sheep, or to sweep the entire house to find the lost coin.
It shows that God rejoices when we return to him, as the shepherd rejoices when he finds his sheep, and as the woman rejoices when she finds her coin. Every sinner who returns to God causes a joyful celebration to break out in heaven and in the heart of the Father.
This image of is in stark contrast to the attitude of the Pharisees, whose self-righteous and judgmental comments caused Jesus to offer us these parables. It’s scary to think that if the Pharisees had possessed the Lord’s power and authority, they would have destroyed all sinners. But Jesus uses all his power and authority to bring sinners back into communion with God.
The Pharisees saw God as harsh and judgmental, when the truth is that God is a loving and compassionate Father. God feels anxious in regards to sinners, not anger. He wants them back. He doesn’t want to condemn them. The Pharisees didn’t understand this, because they painted an image of God in their own likeness. They enjoyed condemning others for being less perfect than them-selves, because it fed their vanity, and helped them feel superior to everyone else. But Jesus has no vanity—only love.
Through these parables of mercy, Jesus is telling sinners, “Don’t be afraid of turning back to God.” When you feel yourself lost like the sheep, or distant like the prodigal son, remember that Jesus takes the first step and does not rest until he finds the one that was lost. Why? Because He is the loving Savior of all sinners.
The steps of making a good confession
In the attitude of the son we can see the steps for making a good Confession. Recognizing himself as a sinner, the wayward young man makes an examination of conscience. He is concerned, he is repentant, and finally he decides to return to his father to ask him for forgiveness. So he sets off on his homeward journey and when he arrives, his father receives him with joy and embraces him, listens to him and forgives him.
This is exactly what the priest does in Confession in God’s name. The next time you go to confess your sins, don’t forget that it is God himself who welcomes you with open arms and open heart. He is your merciful father who has always been eagerly looking for you to come back home, and he will not stop searching for you until you are safely back home with him.
Remember, Rejoice! is the key word at the end of each of these parables. God rejoices to find what was lost! That means you and me!