Houdini escaped again. Actually, her name is Paisley. Our black Labrador was discovered outside our back gate yesterday, proving again that no enclosure made by humans can contain her. Someone opened the gate to let her back in from Hershey Park, but she ran the other way. Nobody is going to trick her into going home!
What went through the mind of the one-hundredth sheep? Randall O’Brien once vividly preached at Tallowood that sheep get lost by nibbling their way away from the flock. Randall walked out of the sanctuary as he made his point. Thankfully, he returned and finished his excellent sermon.
Confronted by the Pharisees and teachers of the law for welcoming sinners, Jesus told three stories about lost things found: a sheep, a coin, and two sons. Jesus argued that the shepherd would leave the ninety-nine sheep to find the lost one. Isn’t this the point of the incarnation? In the fullness of time, God came looking for us. We were willfully lost. Like the Shepherd, the woman, and the dad, our Father rejoices when we are found. Not only is God full of joy, but he invites others to rejoice.
A friend texted me to tell me that our dog found her way home. We rejoiced. Will you rejoice with us that Houdini has come home? How can we not rejoice when a sinner repents and returns to God? All of heaven is rejoicing. So should we.
