Joy in Finding the Lost
In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Parish in Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa powerfully reminded us of a central Christian truth: there is great joy in finding the lost.
In his homily, he reflected on the Gospel parables—stories that may sound absurd from a human perspective. Who would leave 99 sheep just to find one that wandered off? Who would turn the house upside down to look for a single coin? And yet, Jesus used these examples to reveal how God values every person.
If you were the lost sheep or the misplaced coin, God wouldn’t hesitate to search for you. He would seek you out with love and rejoice the moment He found you. In the same way, God calls us to do the same for others. When we reach out to someone who has gone astray and help them return to Him, we don’t just fulfill a duty—we share in His joy.
One way we can do this is through mission work. When we step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they are—especially those who feel forgotten or far from faith—we participate in God’s redemptive work.
We were once lost, too. We didn’t earn our way back; God pursued us with mercy and brought us home. Because of that, we now carry the mission to find others.
So, let’s seek out the least, the lost, and the lowly—not out of obligation, but out of love. Let’s bring them back to the Father, who never stops searching.
The joy doesn’t lie in numbers or status. The joy is in finding the lost.
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time – September 14, 2025
First Proclamation: Exodus 32:7-14
Second Proclamation: I Timothy 1:12-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51
Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-10
Check out our Sermon page for more homily recaps and video links to our uplifting messages. God bless!
