Holy Wisdom Church
When I was
young and heard about the shepherd going off to look for one sheep who had
wandered off and leaving the other 99, I often wondered how responsible was
that? Since then I’ve come to understand there are many meanings to the
parables. One explanation of leaving the
99 unattended is that the sheep were intermixed with other sheep and the
shepherds guarding them would also guard this shepherd’s sheep. The sheep
probably belonged to a village rather than one person and the villagers cheered
when a shepherd came back with the missing sheep. At any rate I’m sure that
some arrangement was made. For those who might equate themselves as being among
the 99, God does love the faithful among us but even angels rejoice when a
sinner repents-the sheep who wanders off.
The Shepherd is God who goes after each of us
if we stray. To answer the Pharisees objection of Jesus hobnobbing with those
they considered sinners who should be avoided at all costs, Jesus indicates he
came to save these very ones- the sinners and outcasts.
The joy of
the woman finding her lost coin seems also to express how much God loves one
who is lost.
That is one
thing that Jesus taught that was not remembered by most of the Hebrews: that
God actively seeks out those who have lost their way as we heard this morning
from Ezekiel.
What is our
response to this great love the Shepherd/ father has for us? How do we receive
this love from God and then how do we pass it on to others?
The reading
from Colossians indicates how we can. Paul prayed that the Colossians -that
includes us- be made strong with the strength of God’s power. Paul prayed that
we be prepared to endure everything with fortitude, and patience. And with joy
give thanks to God. This patience is not just bowing out heads and letting life
happen around us but dealing with the events of life with courage.
Another kind
of patience is the long-suffering patience with people. It is a quality of mind
and heart to not let another’s unpleasantness, maliciousness and cruelty drive
us to bitterness. That we do not let another’s unteachableness drive us to
despair or another’s foolishness drive us to irritation. That we continue to choose
to love others in spite of any other undesirable qualities in them.
Jesus never
said: “Obey my rules.” He said: “Obey
me, follow me”. The Lord made obedience something that we would desire to do
because Jesus gave up his life that we might be free. That is why we are
required to discern between white and black, between light and dark, good and
evil. We are required to make choices. That is the beauty of the freedom of the
Lord. It is God’s love that make us want to obey. Obeying God was never meant
to be a chore or a duty but a joyous response to God’s love.
It is the
Father who seeks us out to enable us to share in the inheritance of the saints
of light, that is, the kingdom of Jesus, (God’s beloved son). What prevents us
from joyfully giving thanks to God in the light of seeing God’s great love for
us?
Christ is in our midst!
