The Shepherd and the Lost Sheep: A Lesson in Grace

A Reflection for Wednesday, February 25 by Rev. Bronwyn Murphy

Lectionary reading for 02/25/2026: Psalm 32; Exodus 34:1-9, 27-28; Matthew 18:10-14

Selected passage for reflection: Matthew 18:10-14 

Read

Matthew 18:10-14 (NIV)

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. ^{[11] [}

¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

The Lost Sheep

Reflect 

When my children were a bit younger, they loved building with Legos. In our dining room, we still have a table that memorializes some of their larger, complex creations. These days, completed creations still get added, but at a slower pace than before. Legos have brought so much joy to our household. And they’ve also brought a lot of drama. On more than one occasion, one of my children will be working on a build with hundreds and hundreds of pieces when everything suddenly goes catastrophically wrong. It doesn’t look like a crisis from the outside because the near-completed build looks fantastic. 

All goes awry when it is discovered that one Lego piece is missing. Of the hundreds and hundreds of pieces, one is lost and must be found to complete the build. Through tears and frantic searches under the couch, in trash cans,  in the deep grooves of the carpet, and in the vacuum canister, the piece is found. Relief. Celebration. The build can go on; all is well.

The Missing Lego

The story of the Lego is similar to the parable of the wandering sheep in Matthew 18:10-14. There are 100 and one goes astray. 99 remain. A 99% retention rate of the flock is impressive. It’s near perfect. Yet, the shepherd goes after the lost sheep, because all by itself, it’s in grave danger. By itself, the sheep remains exposed, unprotected, and vulnerable to predators. A single sheep is ill-equipped to survive without a shepherd, without a flock.

So the shepherd searches for the one. Every sheep matters to the shepherd. Because of the love and care the shepherd shows to his sheep, none are expendable. There is not one he could live without. When a sheep goes astray, the shepherd does not beat it with a staff when it is found. The shepherd doesn’t berate the sheep for separating from the flock. Instead, the shepherd celebrates when the lost sheep is found. 

This is grace: that the lost sheep is sought out by the shepherd. This is grace: that we are sought out by the Shepherd, who yearns to restore what is lost. The truth is, we get lost sometimes. We are all following someone or something. Maybe we are following a person, a status, or an ideology that has taken us away from following God, the Good Shepherd. In God’s good grace, He seeks us out, even when we forge ahead on our own path. 

Just like searching for the teeniest, tiniest Lego piece, it is important for the creator to find what was lost and rejoice when what was lost has been found.

Respond 

Where do you wander? Why do you wander? What dangers may lie in wait when you stray away from the Good Shepherd? Wandering may not be calculated or intentional, perhaps a series of actions and decisions that, over time, put distance between you and God. Open yourself to being found and celebrated by the shepherd.

Rest 

God, thank you that you care deeply for us. You are the Good Shepherd. Thank you for your grace and mercy when we stray from the flock—that you seek us out because even one sheep missing is one too many. Thank you for your persevering love for us, your flock. Amen

About the Author 

Rev. Bronwyn Murphy serves in children's and youth ministries at two Covenant churches near Sacramento, CA. She also serves as a Chaplain Resident at a regional hospital in Northern California. Bronwyn has been married to Jarrod for over 20 years. They have three children, all of whom join Bronwyn and Jarrod in cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers.