St. Peter’s – Trinity held a Morning Prayer Service on September 14. Below is the full version Scott Nelson’s nice homily. Please enjoy.
Good morning, friends.
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke gives us two short but powerful parables: the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. Jesus tells these stories in response to the Pharisees and scribes who are grumbling about him eating with “tax collectors and sinners.” In essence, they’re asking: “Why would someone holy spend time with those people?”
And Jesus, as we come to expect, answers with stories.
First, about the shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep behind to search for the one that’s lost. Then, the woman who turns her house upside down to find a single coin. And in both cases, when the lost is found, there is rejoicing — not just on earth, but in heaven. These parables are about redemption. Not punishment, not guilt, but restoration, finding, bringing back home what was lost.
Redemption is a powerful theme in Scripture. It reminds me of that other parable about the son who comes home after spending all his money and the father throws a party… what do we call that one? The Prodigal Son…. right. But redemption stories can also be found in our modern culture too.
Can anyone think of a movie about redemption?
Think of The Shawshank Redemption — I mean it has the word right in the title. In that movie Andy Dufresne, a man wrongfully imprisoned. I don’t want to throw a spoiler here, but ….. he escapes prison. Great movie… Anyway the movie is not just about how he escapes from prison. The movie shows how His journey is one of constant hope, quiet dignity, and transformation. It’s not just about breaking free from walls and bars; it’s about being restored through his inner strength.
And there is the movie A Beautiful Mind, another great movie about a brilliant mathematician named John Nash who suffers from schizophrenia. John’s redemption doesn’t come him conquering his mental illness which he never does. His redemption comes from being accepted, valued, and loved in spite of it.
Seems to me like that’s what today’s Gospel is about.
Obviously in today’s Gospel Jesus isn’t just talking about sheep or coins. He’s talking about people. About us. God seeks us, not because we’re perfect, or useful, or successful — but because we are loved.
Sometimes we imagine God as someone who only waits for us to ask for forgivesness, we imagine a God who stands in judgement over us, and that is certainly, ultimately, true . But Jesus gives us a different image in these parables: We learn about a shepherd who goes after the sheep, a woman who searches every corner. And when the lost are found, God doesn’t say, “What took you so long?” — God rejoices. We often think redemption means fixing ourselves, proving we’re worthy, earning our way back. But I like to think that redemption begins with being found. It’s a gift, not a transaction.
The good news this morning is that God does not give up on any of us. When we wander, when we feel forgotten, or broken, or far from grace — God is already on the move. Seeking. Sweeping the corners. Calling us home. And when we are found — there is rejoicing.
And that is our calling, too. As people of Christ, we are to be shepherds to one another. To search for the lost, not with judgment, but with compassion. To see not the sinner, but the beloved child of God. Because that’s how God sees us. So today, in this moment of prayer and quiet, I invite you to reflect: Where have you felt lost — and been found? And who in your life might be waiting to be found by someone like you?
For as Jesus says, there is joy in heaven over even one who is restored.
Amen.