Week of June 21, 2026

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

When we hear the parable of the lost sheep, many of us may wonder whether a shepherd would really leave ninety-nine sheep to search for one. At first, it sounds irresponsible. It sounds like bad math. But Jesus is not giving us a lesson in livestock management. He is revealing the heart of God.

The point is not that the shepherd stops caring for the ninety-nine. The point is that the shepherd refuses to accept the loss of the one. That is the scandal of mercy. God notices who is missing. God notices the one who has wandered, the one who is ashamed, the one whose life has become tangled in brambles, the one who no longer knows how to come home.

And then God goes searching.

This is good news for anyone who feels lost, forgotten, abandoned, or too far gone. The Good Shepherd does not wait until we have everything figured out before he comes after us. He restores. He supports. He strengthens. He carries home what cannot get home by itself.

If you feel lost, the Gospel’s message is simple: you are not invisible to God. You have not been forgotten. The Shepherd is still searching, still calling, still carrying, and still rejoicing when the lost are found.
Peace,
Rev. Ben