Introduction: The Power of Being Found
What does it mean to be lost? And what does it mean to be found? These questions lie at the heart of today’s scripture and at the heart of a powerful song from the musical Dear Evan Hansen: “You Will Be Found.” We are surrounded by people who, though they may not look lost from the outside, are hurting and searching for a place where they are seen, accepted, and loved. This includes many in the LGBTQIA+ community, who have been pushed to the edges by exclusionary policies and harmful rhetoric, including some of the executive orders signed this week by President Trump. These policies have harmed people emotionally and spiritually, leaving many to feel abandoned, unwelcome, and unseen.
As Christians, we are called to challenge this injustice. Our calling is to look beyond what is comfortable, to go out into the wilderness in search of those who have been lost or left behind, and to bring them into a community of love and justice.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep: God’s Relentless Pursuit
In Luke 15, Jesus offers a beautiful parable to show us the nature of God’s love. The parable opens with tax collectors and sinners drawing near to Jesus, while the religious leaders grumble and criticize him for keeping such company. But instead of responding with an argument, Jesus tells them a story.
“Which one of you,” he asks, “having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost?” It seems like a risky move—leaving the ninety-nine to find just one. But this is the kind of God we follow. The shepherd in the parable is not satisfied with ninety-nine; they are not satisfied with “almost everyone.” God is deeply committed to each and every one of us, especially the lost, the forgotten, and the marginalized.
Think about the image of the shepherd finding the lost sheep. Jesus says that when the shepherd finds the sheep, he joyfully lays it on his shoulders and carries it home. This is not a scolding shepherd. This is a God who tenderly, joyfully brings us back into the fold, no matter how far we have strayed. No punishment. No shame. Only joy and celebration.
And this is our calling as Christ’s followers—to seek out those who have been separated from the flock—particularly those who have been intentionally excluded—to offer them the joy of being found, to remind them that they are loved beyond measure.
Who Are the Lost in Our World Today?
So, who are the lost today? It might not be as obvious as a sheep wandering in the wilderness, but there are many in our world who feel just as isolated and abandoned.
The LGBTQIA+ community has often been treated as the lost by the church—but not in the sense that Jesus means. Instead of reaching out with love, the church has too often treated LGBTQIA+ individuals as lost souls who need to be “corrected,” rather than precious children of God who need to be embraced.
This is not the way of Jesus. When Jesus talks about the lost, he’s not talking about people who need to be fixed. He’s talking about people who are hurting, people who have been pushed to the margins, people who feel disconnected from the love of community. LGBTQIA+ people, especially those who have been hurt by churches that preach exclusion, have been pushed to the wilderness, often by the very communities that should have embraced them. And this alienation has real, devastating effects on their mental health and wellbeing.
We have seen this exclusion on full display this week as President Trump has dismantled DEI initiatives in the federal government and attempted to define a binary only idea of sex and gender. These orders send a clear message that marginalized communities—particularly BIPOC, Transgender, Gender Expansive, and disabled people—are not fully valued members of our society. Even worse, the administration declared that these groups, these people, are both excluded and unwanted. For many, that rejection reinforces the pain and isolation they already felt.
But what does Jesus do in the parable of the lost sheep? He doesn’t exclude the sheep himself. He doesn’t gaslight the sheep into thinking that their exclusion is their fault. He doesn’t condemn the sheep for getting lost. He doesn’t wait for the sheep to come back on their own. He actively seeks them out. He goes into the wilderness to find them. And when he finds them, he rejoices.
You Will Be Found: A Message of Hope and Restoration
This message of relentless pursuit and unconditional love is echoed in the song “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen. The song speaks to those who are struggling in darkness, who feel unseen and alone. Its message is one of hope: “Even when the dark comes crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you, and when you’re broken on the ground, you will be found.”
That’s the gospel. The gospel tells us that no matter how lost we feel, no matter how broken or unworthy we believe we are, God is searching for us. God is not waiting for us to fix ourselves and God doesn’t expect us to fix anything about ourselves. God is actively seeking us out, ready to lay us on their shoulders and carry us home.
For many LGBTQIA+ people, who have been told they are beyond God’s love, this message is revolutionary. It’s life-saving. It tells us that we are seen, that we are loved, and that we are worthy of being found—not because we’ve repented of who we are, but because we are God’s beloved children just as we are.
The Call to Be Shepherds for One Another
As followers of Christ, we are called not only to receive this love but to extend it to others. Just as the shepherd in the parable goes out into the wilderness to find the lost sheep, we are called to go out into the wilderness of our world today to find those who are lost and lonely. This means showing up for marginalized communities in tangible ways.
It means speaking out against policies that harm LGBTQIA+ individuals. It means creating safe spaces in our churches and communities where LGBTQIA+ people are not only welcomed but celebrated. It means listening to the stories of LGBTQIA+ people and standing alongside us as allies in the fight for justice and equality.
And it means rejecting the idea that someone has to be “fixed” or has to “change” who they are in order to be accepted by God. God doesn’t demand perfection before offering love. God’s love is unconditional. Our love should be the same.
A Model of the Good Shepherd – Bishop Mariann Budde
In the midst of this dark week, a Christian bishop stood up and spoke truth to power in the presence of the President of the United States. On Tuesday, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, delivered a sermon during the interfaith “Service of Prayer for the Nation.” At the end of her sermon, she spoke directly to President Trump. These were her words.
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you. As you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are transgender children in both Republican and Democrat families who fear for their lives.
And the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in our poultry farms and meat-packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shift in hospitals—they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches, mosques and synagogues, gurdwara, and temples.
Have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. Help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were once strangers in this land.
May God grant us all the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, speak the truth in love, and walk humbly with one another and our God, for the good of all the people of this nation and the world.”
Challenging Injustice and Building a World of Love
Our faith should compel us to challenge injustice, but even if it doesn’t, challenging injustice is absolutely fundamental to following Jesus. The policies and rhetoric that continue to harm the LGBTQIA+ community, especially under the Trump administration, are not just political issues. They are moral and spiritual issues. As Christians, we are called to stand against any form of oppression that diminishes the dignity of God’s children.
This work can be uncomfortable, even terrifying. It can feel like leaving behind the safety of the ninety-nine and venturing into unknown territory. But that’s exactly what Jesus calls us to do. When we go out into the wilderness to seek the lost, we are following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.
And when we do find those who have been cast aside—when we lift them up and carry them home—there is joy. Not just for them, but for all of us. There is joy in knowing that we are participating in God’s work of healing and reconciliation, in building a world where everyone is seen, valued, and loved.
Conclusion: The Joy of Being Found
The parable of the lost sheep and the song “You Will Be Found” remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love. Whether we are the ones feeling lost or we are called to seek out others who are hurting, the message is the same: God is with us. God is searching for us. And when we are found, there is joy.
As we go out into the world, let us be like the shepherd, leaving behind the comfort of the ninety-nine to find the one who needs to be found. Let us stand with those who have been marginalized, especially our LGBTQIA+ siblings, and let us work together to create a world where no one is intentionally excluded, where no one is lost, where no one is lonely, and where all are welcomed home with joy.
Amen.
(Due to technical issues, the recording omits the end of this message. And, as always, remember that the text and what I actually preached may differ a bit.)