THE LOST SHEEP Luke 15: 1-10
As usual, my Saturday morning Bible study group choses a scripture from the Sunday’s Lectionary. We used the 9/14 Gospel lesson from Luke 15:1-10 this past weekend.
It dealt with the parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin. After the first reading the participants tried to respond to the question: Word, Image, or Phrase. That is a short way to ask: what does get your attention after reading/listening to this passage. For me, it was the fact that though it may look foolish for the shepherd to leave the 99 sheep to go search for just one, something that I am sure may have been the thought of many, the 99 were not left unattended. If a sheep was lost, the head shepherd would leave the rest of the flock safe and content with hired helpers, and go search for it. God does not abandon his followers, but he zealously seeks the lost. God’s love for each individual is so great that he seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is “found.” Jesus’ association with sinners, the reason why the Pharisees and the teachers of the law criticized him, was because he was looking for the lost sheep: sinners who were considered beyond hope – to bring them the Good News of God’s Kingdom. And the Bible tells us that when he found him or her, “he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”
But, what really get things going among the group members, and what on which I am inviting you to meditate with me is the second question upon which we reflected: “Who are the lost?”
The answers vary in details, but could easily be simplified in two major themes: 1) the lost are generally faithless people. 2) The lost are all of us.
Fact is any one of us at one time or another can find ourselves lost, having lost all faith in everything and everyone around us, though it may not be at the same time. Take a look at what is going on right here, right now, in the country, in the world. Can one truly say that he/she knows where we are and where we are going? Can we truly say that we have any faith in our government, in our leaders, in religion, in our judicial system, or in our authorities? Often enough, these institutions, and even those closer to us can cause us to feel lost. We have a sense of purposelessness, a sense of powerlessness that is pushing us to throw our hands up in the air and give up. The phrase that we will often hear is “I don’t know anymore.” And that my friends, is exactly what the enemy wants us to do: to give up, to give in. Then, of course, he wins.
Like the shepherd, in the parable of the lost sheep, or like the woman in the parable of the lost coin, God is calling us to be persistent my friends; persistent in our trust, persistent in our faith, persistent in our commitment to love, to justice, to peace. What did we learn from Deuteronomy 31:8? “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Did not the shepherd leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Did not the woman light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds her lost coin? God is concerned about every human being he creates. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Remember John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Never mind the lies, never mind the chaos, never mind the deceptions, KEEP BELIEVING.
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for your mercy, your grace, your love, and your compassion; most of all for your Son Jesus Christ. Strengthen us today that we can follow his example of being poor in spirit in a world that praises power and authority. Help us to always be meek and humble of heart, that we may listen to, and comfort, those who mourn and suffer. And, Lord, walk with us on this journey of faith that we may never cease to hunger and thirst for justice and peace for our fellow pilgrims. Give us the grace today and always O God to follow the example of Jesus, the good shepherd, in whose name we pray. Amen and Amen.
Written by Rev. Franck Aguilh
It dealt with the parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin. After the first reading the participants tried to respond to the question: Word, Image, or Phrase. That is a short way to ask: what does get your attention after reading/listening to this passage. For me, it was the fact that though it may look foolish for the shepherd to leave the 99 sheep to go search for just one, something that I am sure may have been the thought of many, the 99 were not left unattended. If a sheep was lost, the head shepherd would leave the rest of the flock safe and content with hired helpers, and go search for it. God does not abandon his followers, but he zealously seeks the lost. God’s love for each individual is so great that he seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is “found.” Jesus’ association with sinners, the reason why the Pharisees and the teachers of the law criticized him, was because he was looking for the lost sheep: sinners who were considered beyond hope – to bring them the Good News of God’s Kingdom. And the Bible tells us that when he found him or her, “he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”
But, what really get things going among the group members, and what on which I am inviting you to meditate with me is the second question upon which we reflected: “Who are the lost?”
The answers vary in details, but could easily be simplified in two major themes: 1) the lost are generally faithless people. 2) The lost are all of us.
Fact is any one of us at one time or another can find ourselves lost, having lost all faith in everything and everyone around us, though it may not be at the same time. Take a look at what is going on right here, right now, in the country, in the world. Can one truly say that he/she knows where we are and where we are going? Can we truly say that we have any faith in our government, in our leaders, in religion, in our judicial system, or in our authorities? Often enough, these institutions, and even those closer to us can cause us to feel lost. We have a sense of purposelessness, a sense of powerlessness that is pushing us to throw our hands up in the air and give up. The phrase that we will often hear is “I don’t know anymore.” And that my friends, is exactly what the enemy wants us to do: to give up, to give in. Then, of course, he wins.
Like the shepherd, in the parable of the lost sheep, or like the woman in the parable of the lost coin, God is calling us to be persistent my friends; persistent in our trust, persistent in our faith, persistent in our commitment to love, to justice, to peace. What did we learn from Deuteronomy 31:8? “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Did not the shepherd leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Did not the woman light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds her lost coin? God is concerned about every human being he creates. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Remember John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Never mind the lies, never mind the chaos, never mind the deceptions, KEEP BELIEVING.
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for your mercy, your grace, your love, and your compassion; most of all for your Son Jesus Christ. Strengthen us today that we can follow his example of being poor in spirit in a world that praises power and authority. Help us to always be meek and humble of heart, that we may listen to, and comfort, those who mourn and suffer. And, Lord, walk with us on this journey of faith that we may never cease to hunger and thirst for justice and peace for our fellow pilgrims. Give us the grace today and always O God to follow the example of Jesus, the good shepherd, in whose name we pray. Amen and Amen.
Written by Rev. Franck Aguilh
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
Recent
Archive
2025
February
March
April
May
June
July
2024
January
February
March
April
May
July
August
October
November
2023
August
October