Luke 15:3-10

Posted by DJL on Nov 2, 2013 in Daily Bread | 2 comments

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 lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

One could easily consider each of these stories alone. And in doing so we would recognize the contrasts in Jesus’ two short parables, one involving a man, the other a woman; one related to work in the wilderness, one work in the home. These contrasts are important, for they reflect the concern of the story-teller to include all of his listeners in these tales, for the truths narrated in these parables are for all.

But just now I want rather to focus on what binds these two parables together. Each is a story of loss, each a story of searching, and each a story of improbable, even outrageous rejoicing when what was lost is found.

In the first story, a shepherd leaves ninety-nine of his sheep in the wilderness (where, presumably, they are in danger of attack or going astray themselves) to seek for one lost lamb. Then, on finding the lost sheep, he parades home with it on his shoulders to share his good tidings with his neighbors, too overjoyed to be embarrassed that he’d lost the sheep in the first place or to gather the others.

In the second, a woman loses a tenth of her wealth, lights a lamp, and sweeps and searches all night until she finds it. And when she discovers where it lay hidden, she invites her friends and neighbors to come to a party to celebrate, likely spending at least that much if not more to entertain her guests.

These are stories of being lost and found, yes, but even more they are stories of immense joy,the kind of joy and gladness that makes you do improbable, even foolish things.

But that’s just how much God loves us, Jesus contends, and how delighted God is when one who had fallen away and missed the mark turns back. When one of God’s lost and wayward children is found, in other words, the only thing you can do is rejoice.

This is all part of Jesus’ answer to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes when they question why Jesus is spending so much time with those society has given up on. I wonder if they got it. I wonder if we do.

Prayer: Dear God, you will not rest until all of your children have been found. Whether we are part of the search party, part of the band that is lost, or both, enable and encourage us to join in the party of celebration when you bring the lost home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.