12/09/2025
MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
"... there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
When I hear Jesus’ parables about the lost sheep and the lost coin, my heart immediately goes to the struggles of my people, the indigenous Teduray of Upi in Maguindanao del Norte. We know too well what it means to be “lost”, not because we wandered away, but because we were pushed to the margins by forces stronger than us.
For generations, our land has been taken from us. Outsiders with power and influence have claimed the land of our ancestors, leaving us less and less space to live as Teduray. And often, we are caught in the middle of conflicts not of our making, wars between political clans, armed groups, or even the military. In these struggles, it feels like our voices and our lives do not matter. We are often treated like the “one sheep” who can easily be sacrificed while the ninety-nine continue on.
But in this Gospel reading, Jesus shows us something different. In God’s eyes, no one is expendable. The shepherd does not say, “I still have ninety-nine sheep, so it is okay to lose one.” Instead, he leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one that is missing. For me, this is God’s justice. God does not accept the loss of even one life, one culture, or one community.
When our lands are taken and our dignity as indigenous people is ignored, it feels like we are being treated as if we are not worth searching for. But Jesus’ parable reminds me that heaven itself rejoices when the lost are found. That means God is on the side of the oppressed, the displaced, and the forgotten. God has not abandoned the Teduray. Instead, God searches for us and continues to walk with us until our dignity is restored.
The woman who looks for her lost coin with persistence also reminds me of our struggle for justice. Like her, we cannot give up searching for recognition of our ancestral domain, searching for peace in our land, and searching for our rightful place in the story of this nation. Our persistence is not only our own effort, but also a reflection of God’s persistence to restore what has been lost.
So, when I pray with this Gospel reading, I hear a call of hope but also of challenge. Hope, because God sees our suffering and will not stop until justice comes. Challenge, because as a Teduray, I am also invited to become part of the search to join Jesus in seeking out those among us who are even more vulnerable, to raise my voice for those silenced by land grabbing and war, and to never forget that each life is sacred.
These parables tell me that in God’s kingdom, no one is forgotten, and no one is disposable. Even when the world treats us as “lost”, Jesus is the shepherd who will not rest until we are brought back to safety, and on that day there will be rejoicing not just in heaven, but also here on earth.
A reflection on the Gospel According to Luke, chapter 15, verses 1-10, by Bro. John Mark Fantingan (Episcopal Diocese of Southern Philippines)
Image: "The Good Shepherd" icon by Mr. Kelly Latimore (The Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion). 📷 Kelly Latimore Icons
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