"They will never be lost..."

"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from my hand. The Father, for what he has given me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." John 10:27-30
I think every child's greatest fear is getting seperated from their parents and becoming lost. It is probably a fear that has come true for each of us in a crowded grocery store or shopping mall. We let go of our parent's hand or take our eyes off them for a few seconds to linger and stare at some toy, and next thing we know they are gone. It may only last for a few seconds, but the sense of helplessness is overwhelming.

As we get older that fear shifts to a fear of being considered insignificant or irrelevant by our peers...a person of no consequence. This fear also sadly becomes true for so many kids in high school who are bullied or marginalized. It is also true for our the elderly who get set aside and discarded in retirement homes.

The reality of a human life is so perfect, so sacred, so miraculous that we innately sense it's inestimable dignity. When this dignity is attacked and stripped away, we lose sight of how wonderful and precious we really are.

There is no greater contentment, peace and joy to know that we do belong. Today's gospel reading makes it clear to Whom we belong and from Whom we can never be taken. There is no one else in this world who can make us this promise. His reassurance is absolute. His word, which is the living word of the Father, is truth. Amen.