Jesus calls every parishioner to seek out the “lost sheep” in their lives with compassion, courage, and hope. Jeff reminds us that seeking them out is not just the mission of priests or parish programs—it’s the calling of every disciple.
Shownotes
1. Jesus Searches for the Lost Sheep
Jesus does not passively wait for people to return. In both Matthew 18 and Luke 15, He reveals the heart of the Good Shepherd who actively goes in search of the one who has wandered away.
Jeff reminds us that if Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one, then the Church must also become intentional about reaching those who feel distant from God.
2. Many Lost Sheep Are Hiding in Plain Sight
The people we love who have left the faith are often closer than we realize:
- coworkers
- classmates
- neighbors
- friends
- family members
Jeff encourages listeners to remain attentive to opportunities for conversation, encouragement, and invitation.
3. The Church Must Be Looking
Jeff says two things are often assumed:
- The Church is actively looking for lost sheep.
- The Church knows how to welcome them home.
But many Catholics have never been taught to intentionally seek out those who have wandered from the faith.
Discipleship requires action, not passivity.
4. Lost Sheep Don’t Always Know How to Return
People who have drifted from the Church often:
- feel ashamed
- feel disconnected
- believe they are unwelcome
- think they must “fix themselves” first
Jeff emphasizes that the lost sheep does not find the way home alone. The shepherd goes after the sheep.
5. Jesus Works Through His Body, the Church
Jesus continues His mission through ordinary disciples.
Whether at work, on a plane, at a game, or during everyday conversations, Catholics are called to:
- notice people’s spiritual struggles
- listen with compassion
- ask meaningful questions
- offer encouragement and hope
Jeff shares a personal story about encountering a former Catholic on an airplane and realizing he had unexpectedly crossed paths with someone else’s “lost sheep.”
6. Avoid Judgmental Attitudes
Jeff contrasts the two versions of the Lost Sheep parable:
- In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches His disciples about humility and care for one another.
- In Luke 15, Jesus responds to religious leaders criticizing sinners and outcasts.
He warns against assuming people deserve their suffering or must clean themselves up before returning to God.
7. Cross the Threshold
Jeff challenges Catholics to cross:
- the threshold of space
- the threshold of discomfort
- the threshold of indecision
Entering someone else’s life with kindness, curiosity, and compassion is often the first step in helping them encounter Christ again.
8. Who Would Jesus Ignore?
Jeff asks a powerful question:
“Who would Jesus ignore?”
The answer is simple: no one.
As disciples, we cannot ignore the hurting, wandering, or spiritually lost people around us.
9. A Message to the Lost Sheep
Jeff closes with a direct message to those who feel far from God:
- You are loved.
- You are valuable.
- You are important.
- You are needed.
- You are precious in the heart of God.
He encourages anyone who has been away from the Church to take the first step home and reconnect with Christ through the local parish and the sacraments.
Bible Verses Mentioned
Matthew 18:10–14
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
Luke 15:3–7
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Links
-
Ascension App
https://ascensionpress.com/pages/ascension-app -
Jeff Cavins Pilgrimages
https://www.jeffcavins.com/pilgrimage -
Hallow App
https://www.hallow.com/jeffcavins
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