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Gospel:
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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It’s not the shepherd’s fault that this sheep wandered off. But he’s the one who pays the price. He travels over mountains, through valleys, thickets and woods, looking for his lost sheep.
Wandering alone into the woods was risky, certainly as night fell. There could’ve been thieves, robbers, or other creatures lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce on him.
Still, this shepherd risks his life in order to save his sheep.
That’s the goodness of God, who freely offers himself for us, we who’ve wandered off into the darkness – separating ourselves from God – for one reason or another.
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When have I wandered away from the Lord?
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Notice what happens when the shepherd finds his sheep.
The common practice would’ve been to break the sheep’s legs in order to prevent it from wandering off again, but this shepherd just picks it up, puts it on his shoulders, and gives it a free ride home.
He doesn’t punish it for wandering off; he embraces the sheep joyfully.
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Jesus tells us that this is how God sees us. When we wander off, the Lord doesn’t stop looking for us until we’re found.
And when the Lord finds us – often in confession – he doesn’t punish us for wandering off; rather, he gives us a free ride home, back to the Church – back to this community of faith, where we belong.
Today let’s pray for all those who feel lost, unwelcome, or who have yet to experience the love of God, that they, too, may be found.
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Image credits: (1) Routinely Nomadic, Robert Frost (2) Pursue Wandering Sheep, 9marks.com (3) Jesus as Shepherd with Sheep Over Shoulders, Melani Pyke, Fine Art America