Lost Sheep, Coin, Son - Luke 15:1-32

I have a bad habit. I know that something is important, so I say to myself "I'm going to put it here and I'll remember where it is." Only to have the inevitable happen. Of course I don't remember where I put something. So I start to scramble, tearing everything apart until I find it, of course in the absolute last place that I would ever think to look. While our memories may waiver from time to time and cause us to misplace items, God never waivers. God does not lose us. And when we wonder away from God, God does not give up on us. This past year we talked about these parables in confirmation class and how they related to the idea of "forgiveness of sins" that we find in the Apostle's Creed. What I find most compelling is the joy that each person had when what once was lost ends up being found. They didn't simply praise God and move on - they rejoiced. Friends, that is the same joy that God has over us, when we who were lost come back home to be with God. The question is if we act like that? Or if we find ourselves more like the pharisees - grumbling against the sinners flocking to Jesus instead of seeing the joy of salvation. Let us be people who rejoice! Let us be people who celebrate what once was lost is now found!