And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:5)
Have you ever lost something? Most of us have at one time or another. Some lost things have sentimental value; others are easily replaceable. When I lost my keys, that was not so bad, because I could just make another one from my husband’s key. However, it feels quite different if you lose something that is much more valuable. We get a sinking feeling when it seems we will not find what we are searching for.
Jesus expressed this feeling of desperation in Luke 15. A shepherd who lost a sheep, a woman who lost a coin and a father who lost a son. They were all devastated. It was not that they did not have other sheep, coins or sons, but they searched high and low for what was lost because it was vital to them. When they found it, they rejoiced and invited others to rejoice with them.
Several years ago, we had a death in our family. During all the commotion of people coming in and out, one of our cats went missing. We searched closets in every room, under beds and everywhere we could think of, to no avail. We asked people to think back to the last time they'd seen Lucy. We searched outside and she was nowhere to be found. My husband and I told my daughter we might have to get her another cat. It sounded like a good idea to us, but not to her. The search lasted for 17 days. We found her by putting out food every day. One evening I heard her meow and ran to open the door. It was late at night, but I woke everyone up to tell them that what we had lost was found. We rejoiced together.
In the parable, the coin was precious to the woman. She swept until she found it, and we have no clue how long it took. The shepherd searched for his sheep until he found it. When the father saw his son at a distance, he ran to meet him. Jesus also helps us to see how much joy he has in seeing us come to him in prayer. When we are distant from him, it is as if we have lost our way. Prayer draws us close to him.
You may have lost your zeal for life, an idea or your vision for spiritual growth. All is not lost; it is not too late. Jesus wants you to rejoice again. Search for him with all your heart… prayer is the beginning. He is only a prayer away.
God bless you!
