The prayer of the lost sheep

 The image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd is an important image we have on our journey of faith, an image that speaks to children, youth, and adults alike.  On the fourth Sunday of Easter, in the Gospel, we heard Jesus talk about himself as the gate through which the sheep enter the sheepfold. Good Shepherd Sunday was a great time for us to reflect upon Jesus as the Good Shepherd and to reflect upon the lost sheep. Since have had the presence of Uno the lost sheep with us in our church of Holy Savior, and since Uno the lost sheep is the mascot of our Flocknote email service, perhaps we are thinking more about the lost sheep and how we can reach out to those who are away from the flock. I am certainly thinking more and more of ways I as a priest can reach out to the lost sheep. The parable of the lost sheep has perhaps given us an important perspective as to what went on in our lives and in our society during the pandemic and as to process of secularization that going on in the United States and the rest of the modern world. I really like the message of this prayer.  

Lord, we pray for the one who is lost and who cannot find his way back. You have said in your holy word, Lord, that the Son of Man has come to save the one who is lost. You have said also, Lord, that if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, would he leave the ninety-nine; and would he go to the mountain to look for the one that has strayed? Your holy word says, Lord, that if he finds that lost sheep, he should greatly rejoice. You said that he should rejoice over the lost sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. We know, Lord, that is not your will that anyone should go astray, that anyone should be away from your flock, that anyone should leave the faith. Thank you, Lord, for taking care of your lost sheep. Help us find the lost sheep and help bring them back into the flock. May we help you any way we can, O Lord, for you are our Good Shepherd. AMEN.