grace filled

Saturday September 21^st, Luke 15:  8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  The way these stories are told in Luke also represent the Grace of God.  The first story is told about the shepherds, the marginalized males in society.  This second story told is of a woman, and women were also marginalized in this society.  The third story of lost and found and rejoicing is told of the wealthy land owner and the prodigal son.  All elements of society were included in this Grace filled ministry of Christ.  In each case, the story line is the same, something is lost, something is found, and there is rejoicing.  These first two stories are complete stories; the third one is open ended.  In the third one, the older brother, representing the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, is still choosing to remain outside the party.  The party however is still going on and the older brothers among us and in us are still invited to rejoice whenever we are ready.