Luke 15:1-32
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
Luke 19:9-10
Jesus Seeks and Saves Those Who are Lost
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
God seeks us...And Jesus said He came to seek those of us who are lost...Man has this way and this feeling to be lost...With all the phones and mobile devices you see today that have GPS one would think you would never get lost...GPS has its benefits...But getting lost is different from feeling lost...I think in our hearts there is this restless search for God, as St. Augustine teaches us...I do think our hearts yearn for Something else, even after it has found the very thing that you thought would fill it...There seems to be this void in our lives that only One can fill...Even when you are the happiest in your life, something seems to gently tug at you, and gives you pause...This void makes us ask the questions: "Is that all there is?", "What is next?", "I need to go out to find something, but yet I do not know quite what it is.", and "Why?"...
These questions make one believe there is more to life than working at a career, having relationships with others, and always trying to attain wealth and more material things...Your own methods of exercise, mental techniques, and your own spirituality does not fill this...This void maybe caused by our sinning ways...Maybe only until we are forgiven by God, can this void go away...
There is Something bigger out there that can help with this feeling...Somehow we lose sight of this...
This gentle tugging is the tug of your Holy Spirit...But we can take heart, God is always searching us wanting us to examine these questions of the Holy Spirit...He is always looking for His lost sheep, and His lost son...He is seeking us...This being lost and this emptiness can only be filled by Jesus...He is the Only Way to God...He is our Redeemer, and He is our Savior...This relationship is the One that does fill all voids...He teaches us He came to seek the lost, and to save the lost -and to fill that feeling of being lost...