Tuesday 10 April 2007

Today we move into the parable of the lost sheep.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2)
So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, 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 until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was last.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:3-7)

Remember that we read the parable with those opening verses (1-2) in mind. That lost sheep was as good as dead out there in the wilderness. Sheep are not known for their ability to defend themselves from predators. The most often comment I hear about this text is how could he leave the 99 out there by themselves. Surely he would lose more of them. Well, someone like Kenneth Bailey is able to comment about the cultural aspects of shepherds in the middle east and he notes that there would have been more than one shepherd out there. Having said that, let's get on to the finding and the rejoicing. Not only is the sheep found...it is brought home. Not only is it brought home...it is brought home under no power of its own. The shepherd finds...the shepherd carries it home. There is no information on why the sheep was missing. We only know that the lost is found. We only know that everyone in the village is brought in to celebrate the safe return - the saving of the sheep - the homecoming. When the lost are found, it is not merely an individual event. This is a community affair for we are always reunited with other - be it sheep or people. The religious leaders may put up a fuss about the "kind of people" Jesus welcomes into his presence as friend and guest and equal, but Jesus is all about bringing people home and making it a homecoming that will make even the least the most welcome one at the party.

Connection: Sometimes it is easy to forget the parables and their way of ripping open the door to God's Reign. Sometimes it is too easy to keep things as we once knew them and never consider how wonderful it is when the lost are carried home to join in the festive life of the body of Christ. Today is another good day to welcome someone home.

Lord God, you find us in many and various place in our lives and you never forget us. It is by your grace that we gathered up and brought into the community of your beloved. We give you thanks again for all your life-giving love. Amen.