September 11, 2016
17th Sunday After Pentecost Year C

“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.” 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 persons 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.” Luke 15:1-10

“Each of these parables has its own nuance; its own point to make. The first parable, the one about the lost sheep has a truly missional edge to it. You have ninety-nine sheep in the fold. Each is safe and sound. Then there’s that one other sheep, the one that’s wandered off. It’s too bad. One hundred makes for a rounder number, but losing one while keeping safe the other ninety-nine isn’t a bad day’s work. But that’s not Jesus take on things. He asks us to consider which shepherd wouldn’t leave behind the ninety-nine to pursue the one lost sheep. Think about it for a moment. It’s clear that Jesus never was a shepherd. Who in their right mind leaves behind the ninety-nine to fend for themselves so you can go after the one that foolishly wandered away? If you don’t stay home and tend to the flock, something bad could happen. You could lose the entire flock – in the foolish pursuit of the one that is lost. Isn’t this the way most congregations think. Take care of those on the inside; don’t worry about those on the outside. But in Jesus’ mind, his calling is to go out and find the lost and restore them to fellowship with God. And by doing this there will be joy in heaven. This parable really doesn’t make any sense – unless we look at this from God’s perspective. That is, God is inclined to take risks to restore us to right relationship.

It is a reminder that to Jesus – and to God for that matter – what seems foolish to many is the wisdom of God. And in God’s wisdom, it is appropriate to leave behind the ninety-nine sheep and throw a party that costs more than the value of the coin that is lost, because God is concerned about the welfare of the one that is lost. God will go to extremes to restore the sinner to fellowship. This isn’t business as usual. It is, however, the divine way. It is the mission of God. So for the church today, we must ask the question – are we ready to head out on what looks like a foolish adventure called the mission of God?” (September 10, 2013, God’s Foolish Adventures and the Joy of Heaven, Robert Cornwall)

The one thing that continues to bang me over the head in these texts today is the fact that, like the Pharisees and the Scribes are grumbling, so many people in our society and in our community are grumbling. It reminds me of so many churches I know – they are filled with grumbling people. You walk into their midst and you can feel the tension. It is a palpable feeling of complaining, grumbling, and bickering. My friends we need to live into our blessings – both in our personal lives, and in the life of the church. God wants a joyful giver, whether it is giving time, talent, treasure, tea parties, toiletries, towels, texts or tweets. No sheep wants to join a grumbling flock. Maybe that is why the 1 sheep took off. He was tired of the complaining, backstabbing, and grumbling. But when he came back, the whole flock rejoiced. And so should we. I start every service with these words: God Is Good All The Time. I say it because it is true – All The Time God Is Good. If we believe it – then let’s live it. God is not willing to sit back and let the sheep get away – so why should we?

Pastor Dave