The Ninety and The Nine

The third bible study for First Communion/First Reconciliation preparation will take place tonight. This study focuses on two stories: that of the found sheep and of the found coin. Most of the children will have seen these presentations with materials in the course of the year, and they are already familiar with this scripture. 

The direct aim of this evening is to see the parallels and differences between these two parables and for the children to see similarities in their lives. A coin gets lost through no fault of its own, but a sheep may choose to disobey. Sometimes we get lost without being at fault, but sometimes we are lost and far away from where we want to be, and we know that we did something to cause it. 

The emphasis here, though, is not on the fault of the sheep or the coin, but on the action and LOVE of the shepherd and the woman. It is God’s initiative which brings us back, not our own, so we never need to fear confessing our fault—or being found—because it is the will and joy of God that a sinner repents. 

The following video was made for a catechist retreat a couple of years ago. The song is very old, but "His mercies are ever new." 

When those around Him ask the Shepherd: "You have 99 sheep here, are they not enough for you?" He responds with some force, "This of Mine has wandered away from me. And though the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep!"