The Found Sheep

"​Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep."  Luke 15: 4-7

Last week, our students celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. We focused on the Parable of the Found Sheep and reflected on these key points:

• Jesus knows each sheep by name, knows when one is missing, searches for, finds, cares for the sheep, and brings it home.
  
• Jesus rejoices when a lost sheep is found and invites us to rejoice with him.
  
• The sheep belong to the Good Shepherd.
  
• The love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the source, model, and reason for the Good Shepherd’s love for us.
  
• One day, all, including the lost, will be gathered into one flock.
  
• Jesus has a great, unconditional, forgiving, never-ending, joyous love for the sheep.
  

Students enjoyed decorating paper sheep outlines as a fun activity to finish up the lesson. Sharing this beautiful parable about God’s enduring and unconditional love with our youngest learners was one of the highlights of our Faith Formation year. May this message remain secure in their hearts and comfort them throughout their lifetimes.