Sunday homily for kids (Luke: 15: 1-7)

Dear children of God,

How many of you have ever lost something really special to you? Maybe a favorite toy, or a special blanket, or even a pet?
When we lose something we love, we search everywhere to find it, don't we?

Today, Jesus tells us a wonderful story about a shepherd who had 100 sheep. Let's listen to what Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke:

"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.'" (Luke 15:4-6)

Boys and girls, do you know what a shepherd does? A shepherd takes care of sheep. He makes sure they have food and water. He protects them from wild animals. And he makes sure none of them get lost.

In Jesus' time, shepherds would count their sheep every night. If one was missing, they would go looking for it right away. Sheep can't protect themselves very well. A lost sheep might get hurt or eaten by a wolf!

Now, let's think about this story. The shepherd had 100 sheep, and just one wandered off. He still had 99 sheep! That's a lot of sheep! He could have said, "Oh well, I still have plenty of sheep. I won't worry about just one." But that's not what he did, was it?

No! The shepherd left the 99 sheep to go find the one that was lost. When he found it, he was so happy! He put the sheep on his shoulders and carried it all the way home. Then he called all his friends to celebrate!

Jesus tells us that God is like this shepherd, and we are like the sheep. God loves each one of us so much that if even one of us gets lost, He comes looking for us.

Saint John Chrysostom, one of our great Church teachers, said that God cares about each one of us as if we were the only person in the world. Isn't that amazing? With billions of people on earth, God knows YOUR name and loves YOU specially!

Sometimes we get lost when we make bad choices or when we forget to pray or when we're not kind to others. But God never stops looking for us. He wants to bring us back home where we're safe and loved.

Do you know what's really wonderful? When God finds us, He doesn't scold us or punish us. He's just happy we're back! He celebrates! The Bible says there is more joy in heaven over one person who returns to God than over 99 people who never got lost.

The Catechism of our Church teaches us that "God never stops calling each person to seek him." This means God is always trying to help us find our way back to Him.

When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion today, remember that He is the Good Shepherd who loves each one of us so much that He would leave everything to find us if we were lost.

Now, I have a little challenge for you this week. Think about someone you know who might be feeling a little lost or sad. Maybe a friend at school who doesn't have many friends, or someone who seems lonely. How could you be like the Good Shepherd and help them? Maybe you could sit with them at lunch, or invite them to play, or just smile and say hello.

When we help others who are lost or lonely, we're being like Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Let's pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Thank you for loving each one of us so much that you would come looking for us if we were lost. Help us to be good shepherds too, by caring for others who might be feeling lost or alone. And help us to remember that no matter what happens, you will always come looking for us. Amen.