Kingdom Building

September 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-10

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 people who need no repentance. –Luke 15:1-7

Yesterday, I explored the definitions of a sinner in conjunction with the use of that word “sinner” in 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Two definitions were given: falling short of what God approves and forfeiting because of missing the mark. Today the lectionary developers illustrate that scripture further by sharing some of Jesus’ parables. The lost sheep has clearly missed the mark and may well have strayed from what God approves. What does the shepherd do? He or she searches for the lost sheep until the sheep is found and returned to the flock. The sheep was saved by and through the direct act of God’s love through the shepherd.

As followers of Christs we are called to share God’s love among ourselves and with every soul on this earth. We demonstrate God’s love through our lives and our concern for the other.  When the other is struggling to meet their basic needs those needs must be met before they can move beyond their sense of survival.  Jesus recognized this when in Matthew 25 he commanded us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, restore the prison, and welcome the stranger. Such actions open the door to introduce those in need to the love of God.  When the other is struggling with searching for self-worth in accumulation of wealth or power and coming up empty, we are called to love them in such a way that they can find the fulfillment by learning to love themselves enough to love others. God hardwired us with the capacity to love one another and we will always be restless until we accept that.

 Prayer: God of Grace and Mercy, teach us how to love one another as you love us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.