Parable of the Lost Sheep — Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:4-7
Among all the , there is the well-known parable of the Lost Sheep, also called the parable of the Good Shepherd or the parable of the Good Pastor, which we find in two Gospels: in Matthew 18:12-14, and in Luke 15:4-7.
Discover this parable with Hozana, along with some commentary and avenues for modern application.
Discover the Texts of This Parable
In Matthew 18:12-14
12 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
In Luke 15:3-7
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Explanation of This Parable
This parable of the Lost Sheep refers notably to:
· Ezekiel 34:2-6, with verse 4: “You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strayed sheep or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.”
· Ezekiel 34:16: “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
· Psalm 118 (119):176: “I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.”
· Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Avenues for Modern Application
· How does this parable resonate with me?
· Do I feel concerned about the importance of making God known to those who are distant from the Church?
· Have I ever concretely witnessed Christ to someone distant from the Church?
With Hozana, Let Us Strengthen Ourselves in Prayer to Evangelize!
The Church exists only to evangelize, said Pope Paul VI. The Gospel of Luke beautifully states: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Thus, this word should remind us of the importance of evangelization, of making God’s word known to all, for God does not want anyone to be lost (John 6:39).
To evangelize, it is first important to be rooted in prayer, for there is no evangelization without contemplation, without prayer.
So, Hozana invites you to discover or rediscover the , join a , or explore .
