Thoughts for the Day

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, 'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.' So he told them this parable.... 'What woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost." Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'

(The Church in Wales Lectionary reading today is Luke 15.1-3, 11-32 . This reading comes from Luke 15.8-10.)

Thoughts

When I was a teenager we lived not far from Climping which lies across the river from Littlehampton. One summer's day we spent the day at the seaside and as we left my father couldn't find his car keys. We searched the sand on the beach for hours, but they had gone. Some weeks later at the beach, my sister said "We were sitting just about here!" She put down her hand into the sand, and to her shock pulled out the missing car keys!

The parable of the lost coin reminds me of our lost keys, but the lost coin would have been more valuable to the woman. It was probably one of the ten coins on her head-dress - the sign of a married woman. It was so important that even if she was in debt it couldn't be taken from her. The coin would also have been hard to find under any rushes covering the earthen floor.

The amazing thing about the meaning of this story is that it shows God actively going out to search for those who are lost. You might guess that He welcomes any who turn to Him, but who would think that He searches for us, and doesn't give up until we are re-united with Him?

Lord God,
we thank You that
You search us out
when we take a wrong turning
and get lost.
We thank you that You
rejoice over each one of us
who return to You
and welcome us back
as one of Your own.
Amen.