June 23, 2026
Lost and Found - Part 2
Luke 15:3-7
06/23/2026
3 So he told them this parable:
4 ``What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he
has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-
nine in the open country, and go after the one
that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his
friends and his neighbors, saying to them,
`Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that
was lost.'
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
repentance.'' (ESV)
This week the prayer of the Church confesses that He is our
protector, that only as we trust in Him are we able to do that
which is good. We also pray that He protects us from everything
that will take us from faith in Christ Jesus.
O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
the things eternal.
Much to the dismay of the Pharisees, the religious leaders
at the time of Christ, Jesus not only spoke with tax collectors
and sinners, but even ate with them. As ones who took pride in
their moral behavior, the Pharisees were not pleased.
So [Jesus] told them this parable: ``What man of you,
having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and
go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And
when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and his 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 persons who need no repentance.''
The Church is not for the self-righteous, but for those who
confess they have sinned against God and neighbor. The Church is
for the lost sheep who strays from the truth. The Church is for
redeemed sinners who long for God's divine protection.
May our Lord grant us peace as we have faith in Christ
Jesus. Amen.