The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 

This is another “who gets into the part” story told by Jesus, along with the story of the lost sheep. This time, however, instead of a sheep, the “lost” thing is a coin, and instead of a shepherd, the one searching is a woman. After just being told by Jesus to think of God as a shepherd in the story of the lost sheep. I’m sure there was a bit of incredulity. After all, shepherds were the lowest of people in the nastiest of occupations. Only a few redeeming stories in the Old Testament lift up any redeeming qualities of shepherds. Now, those in attendance are told to think of God as a woman. This might be an even bigger shock than the shepherd! Culturally, women were seen as property and weren’t allowed to be priest, more or less to represent God.

Q. What women in your life can you lift up as being representatives of God? Do you fully grasp the value that God places on each individual? How does this impact your interactions with others?

The woman possesses ten silver coin, and each holds value to her. She deliberately and persistently looks for that one coin lost. When she manages to find it, she calls her friends and neighbors to share in her joy. In a similar way, every person is of immense value to God. We all have an inherent value as images of God.

Q. How do you share in celebration joy that comes from developing relationships with others?

God, you know the things that a value the most in life. Help me to remember that those are just things and that true joy comes from relationships and not more stuff. Encourage me to embrace a life of simplicity. And may I be free of comparisons so that I can truly rejoice with others when they are blessed.

Amen.