(A sermon for Luke 15:1-10 Presented at Christ Christ, Bordentown, NJ, Sept. 13-14, 2025)

The parables that we heard today from Luke Chapter 15, Verses 1 through 10, are the “prequels” to the more famous parable in Verse 11_The parable of the Prodigal Son in which the return of the self-serving son is celebrated by his father_ which disgusts his brother who had a lived a more righteous life. That parable probably hits closer to our hearts because it relates to our feelings of ranking in our families, and relationships with our siblings. Hence for some, the Prodigal Son parable invokes a sense of unfairness. 

But reading the two “prequel” parables today, without reading the prodigal son, can still elicit a sense of unfairness. Sure, we can understand the joy of finding the lost sheep or the lost coin, or any regular thing that we lost. But these are not regular lost things that Jesus is discussing. The coin and sheep are metaphors for a sinner.

Call it what you want, a coin, a sheep. It can still be annoying to hear that someone who we think has been less righteous, and more of a sinner, is more celebrated than us when they are found. Right?  “We paid our dues.” “No one gave us a get-out-of-jail-free-card.” “We sacrificed, struggled and toiled.” “We don’t see angels reacting with joy over all we did.” 

I think the main problem is people don’t want to see sinners getting the upper hand. We also want to believe that sinning is something that someone else does or does a lot more of than ourselves.

Digger deeper, some people are bothered by being labelled as a “sinner”. In those cases, some people turn to denial …, “Uh-uh, not me. I never sin.” Or we change our vernacular … “I transgressed, which is really the same thing” _ in hopes that it is less of a bitter pill to swallow.

It can make it easier to accept the label of “sinner” if we think someone else sinned more than us.

So, if we’re thinking in any of these ways, we miss the point of today’s parables.

For one, Jesus is not saying it is better to sin rampantly and without abandon. Nor is Jesus saying that He prefers those that sin, over those who don’t.

He’s also not suggesting that sin exists only in a few people.

What he is suggesting is that it’s not a competition.

Now, competition is a natural thing. Born with free will and intellect, we become innovative, and innovation creates competition. Competition creates status, a pecking order, an hierarchy … someone in your mind who is better than you in some way, or someone who you think you are better than, in some way. Not kept in check, competition can become unhealthy.

Being competitive can lead to being bothered by the word _ sin. Because at some point in time, someone probably told us that_ they didn’t sin. That means they are saying, they are better than you. And in our competitive minds, that cannot stand. And you’re right, that cannot stand. Because the only person who has not sinned is …? (Anyone?)

That’s right, Jesus. And Jesus _ is _ God. And are any of us better than God?

No. So, everybody sins.

So, if we agree that everyone sins _ and that we are all on an even playing field _ consider that each of us at some point in time (and it doesn’t matter how many times) are the subjects of today’s parables. Each of us is the lost coin. Each of us is the lost sheep.

And every time we repent, there is a party in heaven.

But there’s one last problem. If there’s a party in my honor, shouldn’t I be there? That sounds reasonable. But trust me, there will be an invitation at some point.

In the meantime, God’s love commits us here. And to love means not competing in the game of judging who is the bigger sinner. Because some days, you are the shepherd. Some days you are the sheep.

Some days, things taste perfectly for you. Some days taste bitter when a sinner, a lost sheep is having a perfect day, and on those days _ don’t muddle about it. Talk to God about it.

Tell Him why this is annoying you and pray for guidance to lead you away from unhealthy competition.

Our Book of Common Prayer has a prayer for many occasions. The one for loving our enemies may suffice when this happens.

It reads, “O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.“

So you see, all equal. No competition. All loved.

Amen.