Found

4 "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? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 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.'

(Luke 15:4-6)

As Jesus spoke to a group comprised of Pharisees and scribes (church leaders), sinners (those not living according to Jewish laws and customs) and tax collectors (conspirators with the government) the church leaders condemned Jesus for eating with sinners and tax collectors. Jesus responded by telling stories about finding something or someone that's lost - precious recoveries worthy of celebration.

To be found is to have been cared for enough to be sought after, pursued. In Jesus' stories the lost did nothing to get found (neither the lost sheep nor lost coin). All of the effort was on the part of the one searching. The shepherd left his other sheep (in the wilderness!) to search and the woman turned her house upside down to find the missing coin (possibly worth a day's wage). The lost sheep was considered as valuable as those which were accounted for, and the value of the lost coin was as appreciated as the value of the coins the woman held in her hand. Each, upon finding what they were looking for, called together their friends and neighbors to celebrate.

God's mercy outweighs our sin, and God values the unrepentant as highly as those who are already in relationship with God. Every soul is worthy of the search.

You are cared for. You are sought after.

You are found.

8 "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? 9 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.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:8-10)