15 September How do you feel when you find something that was lost? [Lk.15:1-10] 1 On Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, tariff collectors and sinners came to listen to him. 2 Pharisees and scribes complained, “This one welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them a parable. 4 “Which man among you who owned a hundred sheep, but lost one, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wild to search for the lost one until he found it? 5 When he’d found it, he’d happily carry it on his shoulders. 6 When he got home, he’d call together his friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me. I’ve found my lost sheep.’ 7 I say that in just that way there’ll be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine who are so righteous they need no repentance. 8 Which woman among you who had ten silver coins but lost one wouldn’t light a lamp and sweep the whole house until she found it? 9 When she found it, she’d call together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me. I’ve found my lost coin.’ 10 I tell you that just so will God’s angels rejoice over one sinner who repents.” Luke tells us that the continued attraction of sinners to Jesus’ teaching about repentance prompted the Law’s defenders (Pharisees) and scholars (scribes) to make the same complaints Jesus heard at the beginning of his mission (see 5:30.) If we picture these particular Pharisees and scribes among those who heard Jesus’ warnings about abandoning discipleship (see just above,) we can imagine them as doubly indignant: “How can you, who expect your disciples to follow you closely, associate with those who won’t even follow the Law!” [vv.1-2]. We hear Jesus trying to enlighten them with his favorite teaching tool [v.3]: parables that invite listeners to re-imagine situations they think they already understand. The two parables here [vv.4-10] ask, “Do you always cut your losses? If not, if there are situations in which you go to great trouble to recover something of yours that’s gone missing, isn’t it possible that God—the God who has promised to care for you (see, for instance, Ex.6:7ff.)—also goes to great trouble to bring you back to him when you’ve turned away? If joy and relief naturally overwhelm you when you’ve found something you treasure, and if you instinctively share your pleasure with those around you, isn’t it possible that God, like you, can’t contain his delight when he’s able to regain your attention?” Compare that delight, says Jesus, with the fun of being surrounded by those whose main concern is to make no mistakes [vv.7&10].
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 21:51:22 +0000
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