There Was A Man Who Had Two Sons

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Who doesn’t like a good story of redemption? Stories of people who have lost it all, been trod under by humanity at large; been addicts, boozers or whores; a thief, an adulterer, a publican, a tax collector, a prostitute or a prodigal and then by the grace of God have been restored. Angels sing, orchestras swell, and a tear forms in our eye as the words I once was lost but now am found echo through the canyons of our minds: Twas grace that brought me safe this far and grace will lead me home.

  The more massive the sin, the more horrendous the act, the sweeter that voyage home is – and the Prodigal Son certainly is no disappointment. He walked out of his home, walked out on his father, leaving his virtue, humility and godliness at the farm gate.

 

The Sheep and the Coin

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” According to Luke's gospel, this is the mission of Jesus. The parables in today's lesson teach us more about Jesus' work of seeking and saving the lost.

The first parable tells of a shepherd who has a hundred sheep. One gets lost, and the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes in search of the one lost one. When he finds it, he hoists it up on his shoulders and brings it back to the flock. Then he calls for rejoicing because the lost one is found. Likewise, Jesus says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”