The Parable of the Lost Coin
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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A woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house to find her lost coin, then invites her neighbors to rejoice
What is this parable?
This is the second of the three parables of mercy in chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke, between the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son (cf. Lk 15:8-10). Jesus told it when the Pharisees and scribes criticized him for welcoming sinners (cf. Lk 15:1-2).
The story
Jesus asks: “what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?” (Lk 15:8). Each coin was a silver coin, worth about a day’s wages. For a poor woman, losing one coin was losing a lot. Houses in those days were often low with few windows, so she had to light a lamp to find it.
When she found it, she did not keep her joy to herself. She called her friends and neighbors together and said: “Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.” (Lk 15:9).
The card shows her bending down to pick up the coin, with two neighbors at the door, hinting at the joy she is about to share.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
God is like that woman: he does not want anyone to be lost. Each person is God’s precious coin. Even if you wander into the dark corner of sin, the Lord still lights a lamp and comes looking for you. When someone comes back, all heaven rejoices. That joy is shared: you can think of the Church as the neighbors who rejoice together. So do not be jealous when others are forgiven, but be happy with them.
A lesson for you
- When you are far from God, trust that he is looking for you, and come back through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Work hard to find again the good things you have lost: night prayers, the habit of going to Mass.
- Share in other people’s joy, especially when a friend changes for the better.
Identifying marks
- A woman kneeling on the floor, holding an oil lamp: God patiently searches for every person, even in the darkest corners.
- A small coin glinting in the lamplight as she picks it up: each person is precious in God’s eyes; he does not want anyone to be lost.
- A broom of thin twigs leaning against the wall: the Lord searches for you carefully, without missing a single spot.
- Two smiling neighbors at the door: the joy of all heaven when a sinner comes back.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About