The Second Sunday after Epiphany (GA)

Luke 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ ¹⁰ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

It seems this story sounds like a penny pincher. The woman lights a lamp and sweeps her house top to bottom just to find one penny? How many people bend over and pick up a penny on the sidewalk. Only if it is heads up, for good luck! The penny is not worth the time nor the price of lamp oil. The woman should just leave the penny behind and be thankful of all the riches she does have? Oh, wait she only has ten cents to her name.

Sometimes it seems we get lost in the illustration. The point is not the signifance of the coin. The point is that our job, Christ's job, the apostle's job is to find lost people, or fish. We need to be looking for sinners to save. The joy over a sinners confession is worthy of a party. So let us put on our party hats and confess our sins to God our Father and in the presence of one another.

There is joy in being a sinner who is confessing their sins. Sure there is disgrace in admitting all the manipulative and deceitful things you have done. But when you confess your sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive you all your sins. Christ has died for the forgiveness of all your sins.

So take the penny story one step further. Wouldn't it be great if we had to search our home top to bottom to find a sin. Instead our home is overflowing with sin. Yet, Christ died to forgive your sins. He sweeps your home clean of all sin. He is like a maid that comes, and cleans up all your sins, so that you are spotless.