A Reflection on Luke 15:1-10
Have you ever lost something really important to you? Maybe a favorite book, or
your phone, or even your pet? Remember that awful feeling in your stomach, and
how you searched everywhere until you found it? And then remember that amazing
moment when you finally found what you were looking for, that pure joy and
relief? That's exactly the feeling Jesus wants us to understand in these
beautiful parables.
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells us about a shepherd who has a hundred sheep, but
one wanders off and gets lost. Now here's the amazing part: the shepherd
doesn't just shrug and say, "Well, I still have ninety-nine, so that's
pretty good." No! He leaves the ninety-nine in a safe place and goes
searching for that one lost sheep until he finds it. When he does find it, he's
so happy that he carries it home on his shoulders and throws a party with all
his friends. Jesus is telling us something incredible here, that's exactly how
God feels about each one of us. We are all very important to Him. Every single
person matters so much that Heaven itself rejoices when even one person turns
back to God.
The same is true in the parable of the lost coin. A woman has ten silver coins,
loses one, and she doesn't rest until she's swept every corner of her house and
found it. When she discovers it, she calls all her friends and neighbors to
celebrate with her. Jesus is showing us that God searches for us with that same
passionate determination. He doesn't give up on us, ever. And when we come back
to Him, especially through prayer, the sacraments, and turning away from sin,
all of Heaven celebrates.
Now, you might wonder how this connects to the Rosary, and actually, it fits
beautifully. When we Pray the Rosary, we're never alone, we're asking our
Blessed Mother to help us, to pray with us, and to guide us back to her Son
whenever we've wandered away. Mary is like that good shepherd searching for us,
gently leading us home to Jesus. Every Hail Mary is like her voice calling out
to us when we're lost, reminding us that we're loved and that there's always a
way back. The Rosary is one of the ways we let ourselves be found, over and
over again.
So, the next time you hold those Rosary beads, remember that you're holding
onto a lifeline of love. God is always searching for you, always waiting to
celebrate your return, and Mary is always there to lead you safely home to her
Son. You are that precious sheep, that treasured coin, worth searching for,
worth celebrating, worth everything to God our Father, who loves us without
limit.
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
