Homily for Children’s Mass (Luke 15:1-7 )

Good morning, boys and girls!

I want you to imagine something with me. Imagine you have ten of your very favorite toys lined up on your bed. Maybe they're stuffed animals, action figures, or dolls. You love each one of them very much. Now imagine that before bedtime, you count them, and oh no! One is missing! What would you do? Would you say, "Oh well, I still have nine toys, that's enough"? Or would you look everywhere to find that special toy?

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us a story about a shepherd who had 100 sheep. Let's listen to what Jesus said:

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'"

Jesus tells this story because some people were upset that He was spending time with people they thought were "bad" or "sinners." They didn't understand why Jesus would want to be friends with these people.

But Jesus wanted to teach them—and us—something very important about God's love.

You see, God is like that shepherd. Each one of us is like a sheep in His flock. And God loves each and every one of us so much that if even one person is lost or far away from Him, He will do everything to find that person and bring them back.

Have you ever been lost? Maybe in a store or at a park? Do you remember how it felt? It can be scary to be lost, can't it? And do you remember how happy your mom or dad was when they found you? They were probably so relieved and joyful!

That's exactly how God feels about us. When we make mistakes or do things that take us away from God—that's what we call sin—God doesn't stop loving us. Instead, He comes looking for us, just like the shepherd went looking for his lost sheep.

And what did the shepherd do when he found his sheep? He didn't scold it or punish it. He was so happy that he put it on his shoulders and carried it home! Then he called all his friends to celebrate because his lost sheep was found.

God celebrates the same way when someone who was far from Him comes back. In fact, Jesus says there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine people who don't need to return because they're already close to Him.

This tells us two very important things:

First, God loves each one of us personally. Not just as a big group, but each one of us individually. He knows your name. He knows what makes you happy and what makes you sad. He cares about you so much that He would leave everything else just to find you if you were lost.

Second, we should never give up on anyone, including ourselves. Sometimes we might think, "I've done too many bad things" or "God couldn't possibly love me anymore." But that's not true! The story of the lost sheep shows us that God never gives up on us, no matter what.

So what can we do to be more like Jesus?

1. We can be kind to everyone, even people that others might not like or be friends with. 2. We can forgive others when they make mistakes, just as God forgives us. 3. We can help others who might be "lost" to find their way back to God's love.

Before we finish, I want us to do something together. Let's close our eyes for a moment. Think about someone you know who might be feeling lost or alone. Maybe it's a friend at school who doesn't have many friends, or someone in your family who is sad. In your heart, say a little prayer asking Jesus to help you show His love to that person this week.

As we prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist today, let's remember that He is the Good Shepherd who loves each one of us so much that He gave His life for us. When we receive Him, He strengthens us to love others the same way.

Let us pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you never give up on us. Help us to be like you and to show your love to everyone we meet, especially those who feel lost or alone. Amen.