2. The Lost Sheep (Lk 15: 1-7)

When Jack – that was the name of the lost sheep – was being carried on the shoulder by the Shepherd into the house, there was an eruption of joyful cries among those present.

“Congratulations!” they shouted to the Shepherd, who was visibly happy.
He let Jack solemnly down in the midst of the rejoicing crowd. They watched him as if he were a VIP!

“Let us celebrate the arrival of our loved one who was lost. I tell you solemnly, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over 99 just who never sinned at all!”

Jack was taken aback by all this. When he strayed he had been frightened, and more so when he was discovered. To his surprise, the Shepherd had not shown even the minimum of anger but only love and compassion, and even pure joy. And now, this celebration… He began to realize that he was precious.

But then, Jack began slowly to enjoy his newly attained celebrity status. All were dancing around him. It was indeed a grand feast. The Shepherd told them the story of how he managed to find Jack. He was told to give a speech. He was never given that kind of privilege before. His ego began to swell. He stood up and hesitantly said: “I never knew that my Shepherd and all of you loved me so much. Thank you!”

A few months passed. And the VIP was once again one among the other sheep. There was no particular attention given to him by anyone. Jack regretfully recalled his moment of limelight. He disliked this anonymity and boredom. He badly wanted some applause.

Slowly an idea formed in his head. Why not get lost again? Day by day the idea gripped him more and so, one fine day Jack got lost again, not very far from the farm. He expected a fast search and easy find and hence he did not even take food and provisions with him. Three days passed even before anyone realized that he was missing. When they noticed, they reported the absence to the Shepherd.

The Shepherd looked a bit callous. He did not rush into immediate action and took no action for another three days. In the meanwhile Jack was starving to death in his hiding. He contemplated coming back by himself and giving some explanation of his having lost the way or something like that. But then he could not forgo the possibility of grabbing the limelight again. In another day, he was so weak that even if he wished he could not go back by himself. He lay there in fear and tears, awaiting his impending death.

The next day he could faintly hear a small search party coming along. Slowly one of his companions came to his hiding place and he was “discovered”. They gave him some milk and fruits. When he had regained some strength he looked pitiably at the Shepherd and said: “Lord, why did you not look for me? I almost died.” The Shepherd said with a smile: “Jack, last time you were lost. But now you were hiding!”