Daily Reflection – 12/9/2025
Keepers Of The Tabernacle
Faith Series
Sacred Scripture
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14)
Reflection
The parable of the lost sheep is a familiar and deeply comforting one. We picture Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who values every single member of his flock. If even one of a hundred sheep goes astray, he leaves the ninety-nine safely in the hills and goes searching for the one who is lost. He doesn’t rest until it is found.
This powerful image reveals the depth of God’s personal and relentless mercy. It is not His will that even one person should be lost. He cares for each of us so profoundly that His desire is not for judgment, but for forgiveness and restoration.
This story of the Good Shepherd is a cornerstone of our faith. We find solace in knowing that Jesus will seek us out when we wander, carrying us close to his heart and leading us with tender care. He is the shepherd who lays down his life for his flock, demonstrating a love that knows no bounds. It’s a truth we can hold onto in times of doubt and distance.
However, there is another layer to this scripture, one that invites us to see ourselves not just as the sheep, but also as the shepherd. Think about your own life. Are you not a shepherd of a hundred different things? Many of us are juggling numerous responsibilities. The demands of work, the needs of our children, the effort to nurture a marriage, the commitments to friends, and the countless other tasks can feel like a flock of a hundred sheep. Amid managing it all, it is almost inevitable that we might lose track of one.
When we realize that something or someone precious has gone missing from our lives, this gospel prompts us to act. What is the valuable thing you may have lost? Perhaps it is a relationship, fractured by a misunderstanding or a painful word. It could be a friend who drifted away so quietly you didn’t notice their absence until it was stark. Maybe you once had a deep sense of joy or enthusiasm that has since been misplaced while you were tending to other urgent matters. Has a passion or a sense of purpose slipped through your fingers?
The scripture asks us a crucial question: What are we willing to do to find what we have lost? Perhaps today is the day to pick up the phone and reconnect with a friend you haven’t spoken to in far too long. This could be the moment to test the waters of forgiveness with a family member, to see if healing is possible. Today might be the day we decide to actively practice love and compassion, allowing those virtues to guide us back to a place of wholeness.
Of course, there is no promise that our search will be successful. The friend may not answer, and the hurt may be too deep to mend immediately. But the gospel doesn’t demand success; it asks us to try. It assures us that if we do find what we have lost, our joy will be immense – a joy so great that we would want to gather our loved ones and celebrate. Imagine saying, “Rejoice with me, for I thought this friendship was gone forever. I thought I would never feel that spark of joy again. But I have found my lost sheep.”
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, help me to know and love Your gentle voice throughout my daily life. May that voice overwhelm all others that compete for my attention. I choose You, dear Lord, as my one Shepherd and guide. Jesus, I trust in You.”
Daily Note
We should be thankful for what God has given to us. Our shepherd has provided for us. We have food. We are safe. And, yes, we have one another. Moreover, if we are successful in being people of integrity, generosity, and service, then those are gifts from God as well. To live as he taught us means that we learn to use those gifts so that we can forgive and learn to love as He loves us.
