The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 14, 2025

Summary

Mother Suzanne preaches on the parables of the lost from Luke 15, organizing her sermon into two parts: addressing loss without finding (in light of difficult national events) and the joy of finding what was lost. She emphasizes that God never stops pursuing the lost - whether lost sheep, coins, or people - and that as followers of Jesus, we are called to help others find what they have lost, carrying the assurance that heaven rejoices when the lost are found.

THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                                                           Luke 15:1-10

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and 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.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 

Artwork:  The Lost Sheep by artist Robert T. Barrett (born May 13, 1949)

Transcript

Mother Suzanne:

Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. In the name of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen, please be seated. Well, if there is ever to be a day in which it is good to be together, it is now. Thank you for coming and for showing up this morning, especially. Today's gospel highlights two of the three stories that compose one of my most favorite in all of scripture, which is the 15th chapter of Luke. This chapter is often known as the parables of the lost, in which all three parables are about losing something and then the joy that is experienced once it's been found. So this morning we have a story of a lost sheep and a lost coin. And in light of this week's events, I have done something I normally don't do, but the sermon I have organized into two parts, addressing first when something is lost and not found.

The second, when something lost is found. It seems appropriate and right for me to address both today, considering how we have had a week in our nation that has been difficult. So in line with this 15th chapter of Luke, the third parable is one perhaps we recognize. It shows up during the season of Lent. It is known as the return of the prodigal son. And after reading this entire chapter, one should not be left shaking their heads, wondering what Jesus was talking about. It should be clear that when something is lost, there is rejoicing in heaven when it is found.

This isn't always the case with Jesus' parables. The meaning isn't always so clear cut, but today's parables are not those. It is clear. And what makes this setting up of these two parables is the people who are present to them. The first, they're the worst, the tax collectors and the sinners, the worst of the worst. And the second group, they are the Pharisees, the religious leaders who from one sentence we get ahead as to what they are like for they say this fellow, meaning Jesus, welcomes sinners and eats with them. Jesus does this thing. He goes after the lost, celebrates when they are found, but does this audacious thing afterwards? He invites them to share a meal. He invites them to have supper.

Well, if we are to be honest, all of us could probably tell a story or share a time in our own lives where we've experienced what it's been like to lose something that meant a lot. And then the overwhelming sense of joy one has when what was lost has been found. I am also deeply aware of the sorrow that comes when something lost is not found and how this sentiment seems especially fitting in light of the events which have gripped our nation this week. I have words to share or words of advice. And if my words seem lacking or maybe even feel a bit disjointed to you, it's because that's where I'm at. And I would imagine many in this room might share the same sentiment, but there is something that I do in my own life as a priest and a person who is walking the spiritual path.

It is in these times, in these moments where nothing makes sense, but my mind turns to what is timeless and eternal, the things of God and those things true of the faith I try to live every day.

And so turning to those, I do know this for sure. God is in the midst of pain, disillusionment, sorrow, outrage, and questions regardless of what side you are on. He is in the midst. He's out there and he's not sitting on a cloud looking down, watching from afar, pointing his finger. No, he's not. He's with us carrying our pain as our own hearts and minds swirl. It is my hope that out of this tragedy and loss, the opportunity for something new will be born in our country and in all of our hearts. My hope is that genuine understanding, change for the better will happen before it gets worse.

But with certainty, I can say this. As resurrection people, we believe that out of death, new life comes and out of sorrow and weeping, joy will come again. And hope will always be on the other side. I began our time together with these words from our brothers at the Episcopal monastery in Boston. It might feel like we're in a terrible storm buffeted about by the winds and waves of wildfire, war, political upheaval, and all other sources of suffering close to our hearts and in our prayers. But amidst it all, Jesus reminds us to do what? To place our trust in him.

Jesus who is our savior is always, always ready to support, offer strength, hope, and peace, which passes understanding. In the second part of this sermon, let there be no question about this. Our God is a God who cares about all things that are lost. And God rejoices in the discovery and redemption of lost coins, sheep, lost people, lost friendships, and dare I say even when we lose our own selves. It seems that God makes it a point to beckon that which is his to himself because he is in constant pursuit of those to which he created, those who bear his likeness and image, meaning me and you.

Wherever we find ourselves good or challenge, even in a desperate state and place, even if all things seem and feel lost, I am here to say they aren't and we aren't. God in his grace and mercy never, ever stops looking, searching, desiring, longing to find the one who has been lost. We are all the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, but we are all being pursued by a God who is committed to always look for that which is lost. Maybe you need to hear this this morning. God's love is so vast and deep and wide that in his goodness, he will never stop pursuing you. No matter what hole you find yourself in or dig yourself into, there is no place that he will not look to find you because there is nothing that we could ever do to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.

I don't think it is an accident that this story of unending love for creation is told to the sinners and tax collectors. They are the ones remember who think themselves of being unworthy of this love. Juxtapose this with the religious leaders who are so smug, they can't imagine a God who would leave the majority to pursue the one who was lost, but that is the kind of God who we love and serve, always pursuing, always for wanting a relationship with you and with me. So no matter where you find yourself in stories of being lost and then of being found as disciples of Jesus, we are in the business of helping people find that which is lost.

We are the ones who can help those find hope. We can help those who have lost faith, lost their direction, lost their purpose, lost themselves. Why? Because our God is a God of the lost and celebrates when the lost have been found. And as his followers, we follow Jesus not only to the cross, but to the thorny, rugged, and dangerous wilderness to find the missing sheep. And we also overturn and look under everything to find the one coin that means so much. So in closing, I will ask you, what is it in your life that needs finding today? Is it love, hope, joy, contentment? Is it a relationship? Is it you? Whatever comes to mind immediately, I would ask you to pay attention to it. Don't go another day without starting the search. Carry with you the assurance that when it's found, there will be rejoicing in heaven.

Amen.