Jesus narrates two parables of searching. The shepherd who searches for his lost sheep and the woman who searches for her lost coin are images of God’s search for us in Jesus. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). God’s search for man found its greatest expression in the incarnation of the Son of God.
There is an element of exaggeration in both of these parables. Why should the shepherd risk the lives of ninety nine sheep in search of strayed one? Why should he prepare a banquet for his neighbours and friends when he finds the lost sheep? Or in the case of the woman, why should she spend a huge amount of money in rejoicing with her neighbours? Jesus is really talking about the ways of God, which are extravagant by human standards. His search for us has no parallels in human way of thinking. That is why Jesus makes a contrast between the reaction of the scribes and Pharisees and that of the heavenly Father. This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’. This action of Jesus was unthinkable of a faithful Jew, according to the scribes and Pharisees. But heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner. Jesus valued those whom the religious leaders of the time dismissed as sinners. He went in search of them.
We are all lost in some way. We need to open our hearts to the searching love of God. We need to allow ourselves to be found by God. Reflect today upon those areas in your life, where we have fine astray from the love of God and then cry to God in repentance over the failures ti recognize His love. He will surely find us and carry us on His shoulders.
✍️CB