The joy of being found

TAX collectors and sinners gathered around Jesus, eager to hear him. The religious leaders, however, grumbled. “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Their complaint became the occasion for one of the most beautiful revelations of God’s heart. Jesus answered not with an argument but with two unforgettable stories—that of the lost sheep and the lost coin. (cfr. Lk 15,1-10)

The point is strikingly simple. God does not merely tolerate sinners; he actively searches for them. He is not content with keeping the ninety-nine safe. He goes after the one that has wandered away until he finds it. Heaven celebrates not because someone was condemned, but because someone finally came home.

Many people imagine God as a strict accountant who carefully records every mistake. Christ paints a different picture. God is a shepherd climbing rocky hills for one frightened sheep. He is a woman patiently sweeping every corner of her house for one missing coin. His love is personal, tireless, and never half-hearted.

The lost sheep probably did not even realize how lost it was. The coin could not search for itself. Both images remind us that sin blinds us. We often mistake our distance from God for freedom until we discover an emptiness that no success, pleasure, or achievement can fill.

This is a lesson our country badly needs today. We easily divide people into “good” and “bad,” respectable and hopeless. Social media magnifies this habit. One mistake, one scandal, and many are eager to cancel rather than correct, to shame rather than restore. Mercy often becomes the first casualty.

The Gospel proposes another way. Instead of asking, “Who deserves to be excluded?” Jesus asks, “Who still needs to be found?” Christians should never rejoice when someone falls. Our first instinct should be to lift them up, pray for them, and patiently accompany them back to God.

This also speaks to family life in the Philippines. Many homes are wounded by misunderstandings, migration, broken relationships, addictions, or pride. Some members quietly drift away from the faith or stop speaking to one another. The easy response is, “Bahala na siya.” Christ teaches something far more demanding. Genuine love keeps searching without losing hope.

The shepherd does not wait comfortably in the pasture. The woman does not glance casually around the room. They make an effort. Love always moves. It sacrifices comfort because another person’s good matters more than convenience. That is how God has always dealt with each one of us.

Those who have experienced God’s mercy become instruments of that same mercy. Parents seek lost children. Friends reach out to those trapped in despair. Priests welcome penitents without humiliating them. Teachers patiently guide difficult students. Every Christian is called to participate in God’s search-and-rescue mission.

Mercy, however, does not mean pretending that sin does not exist. The sheep was truly lost. The coin was genuinely missing. Love begins with truth but never ends with condemnation. God’s forgiveness does not excuse sin; it heals the sinner. He calls us not merely to feel better but to become better.

The Gospel ends on a note of joy. Heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner more than over many who think they have no need of repentance. No one has wandered too far. No family is beyond healing. No heart is beyond conversion. The Good Shepherd still searches, and the Lord still sweeps every corner to find what has been lost. May we allow ourselves to be found and then gladly join him in bringing others home.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com