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Third Sunday After Trinity [Luke 15: 1-10] In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit; Now why in the world did that one lost sheep get lost in the first place? You could probably imagine the script: He's with the other 99, but somewhere on the fringe as they move thru the fields. The flock gradually shuffles in this direction as they're herded over the land, albeit getting into some steeper hillsides. But the one sheep keeps finding more of that tantalizingly good grass, and some naturally easier landscape with good cover in the other direction. And which wins out - Being safe with the flock; Or all that nice green grass ahead? "Well, who knows," he thinks, "Maybe all the others will follow if I keep going a little further to the good land, right?" ...But before you know it, that one sheep finds itself alone, and ready to become wolf meat. A sheep, of course, doesn't see things the same way a shepherd does. A shepherd is ever thinking about keeping the flock safe, together, and making sure they're fed. A sheep, meanwhile, tends to do what pleases him and runs to whatever looks safe. It doesn't take much for him to get lost. Many a father can perhaps recall being a "boy" at an earlier time in their life. But a big transformation happened on exactly that day he went from being "dude" to "dad." All of a sudden, you no longer think about living on the fringe, testing the limits, pushing the boundaries, being the first to go your own, new way, trying to prove them all wrong and having fun while doing it, while someone else takes care of the damage in case it doesn't work. Suddenly on the day you become a dad, you have the responsibility for taking care of that one who will now be wearing your shoes instead. Happy Father's Day. It's amazing how someone's perspective changes when you get assigned to a new position of responsibility, especially fatherhood. It can be rather scary, having so many things to manage which are out of your control. How are you going to handle it? The scribes and Pharisees were charged with teaching and leading God's people. Their solution was to utterly cut off those who had fallen into becoming swindling tax collectors, as well as prostitutes, adulterers, homosexuals, idolaters, thieves, and murderers, and to just leave it at that. And why shouldn't they? Would you want to have a sex offender living next door to you; or a thief, or a drug dealer? Besides, God had clearly commanded all such to be punished, quite severely at that. The Scribes and Phasisees were simply trying to uphold the law. ...And so when they saw Jesus eating with sinners, it was an outrage to them. He was undermining God's law, they thought. They grumbled against Him. But the Bible contains another fundamental doctrine, besides the Law, which is seen throughout as well. This other doctrine might appear to contradict it. But it doesn't. God can't contradict Himself. ...This other doctrine is the Gospel. Everyone knows about the Law. Everyone in this world knows about right and wrong, and can resonate with it. We can all see when injustice has been done, and get angry. We likewise know when justice is supported. The Law tells you what you must do, and what not to do. It tells you that if you want something, you must earn it. It promises good things if you obey it. And if you fail to do your duty and obey it you get punished, ultimately with death. The Law knows no mercy for those who break it. And this is indeed what all those are not sorry for their sin need to hear. ...But like this alone, you'd have absolutely no hope, and would be powerless. But since our first parents, and their fall into sin and death, God has not let the law be the last word. Instead, when found dead guilty in their sin, not to mention hating and judging each other, God brought them to see their sin. ...But then He gave a new word, a new promise. And this promise gave those who were dead a new hope, new life. He promised a Savior, who would suffer for their sin, and overcome their accuser. That's why the Law and Gospel don't contradict - because their punishment is now on Jesus instead. And He gives them new life. And as they trusted this alone, they had life again, a new "lease on life." They had new ability to love God again and keep the Law, doing their duties now with joy again, knowing Christ was covering their sin. No one can deny that Jesus preaches the Law also. In fact, He preaches it more clearly and harshly than anyone. He says that not only is murder, murder, but so is hatred murder -the very thoughts of your heart behind it. And so is greed equal to idolatry, lust equal to adultery, and coveting equal to stealing; and with any and all of it, you are damned by God. And those who boast that they're better in keeping it than others are the most deluded of all. No one escapes. That's what Jesus says. But today, Jesus told the parable to teach the Scribes and Pharisees, as well as the tax collectors and sinners and you the Gospel. He comes along and says, "Even though you are lost and damned, like a straying sheep, good for nothing but feeding the wolves, now I have come. I'm putting you on my shoulders, and taking you home." He says, "All my labor, suffering, and death cancels the guilt of your sins. I have more than paid for all your errors. I have fulfilled the Law for you. It is trumped, so that you now live; and indeed you get to live eternally with me." The Scribes and Pharisees had been doing the same thing as you did when you complained about others behind their backs - all the times you scoffed among your peers about corrupt politicians; all the times when you've burned with road rage at bad drivers though you would never say it to their face; or complained about lazy fellow church members, or your misbehaving children. Does complaining behind someone's back help anyone? Does it help any relationship, or lead to anything good? -No. It only makes you a bigger Pharisee. It isolates them, makes them want to get lost. It creates a worse environment for everyone. But what did God do with you? He didn't let you keep going in the way of self-righteousness, or the way of deeper sin in your life. He didn't refer a sheep-warden, a trainer, a coach, a self-help guru, or a therapist after you so to help you shepherd yourself, and help you get out of it yourself. No, He comes Himself, because you can't get out of sin yourself. But He comes as your Savior, because He loves you. Perhaps Jesus came to you thru a friend who risked fear of embarrassment to urge you back to the truth, back to the fold, back to Jesus. Perhaps He brought you back as you happened to fall in with the flock coming for the Sunday morning routine again, and were pulled in by the words of the liturgy or sermon. Perhaps a pastor went out to meet you, when you otherwise would have just kept to yourself and never seen a way out. Either way, this is a little of how Jesus takes you up on His shoulders and brings you back to be a part of His heavenly flock again. It's how He leads you to His Sacrament. And you know what? -He wants to do this. This is His most favorite thing to do - finding lost sinners and bringing them sinners back. In fact, nothing makes Him and all of the church on earth and in heaven rejoice more than one who was lost being redeemed. He truly loves you. You are His sheep. He's not surprised about all the dumb stuff you've gotten yourself into, or the dumb things you've repeatedly done. He still takes you back to Him, and even calls friends and neighbors together for a feast, so that all may rejoice when you return. Thank God for fathers likewise, in how they have dealt with us in our earthly life. Dad didn't make fun of you or mock you for your shortcomings, did he? I hope not. No, he confronted you, forgave you, and still wanted you to be his son or daughter and to do well. He still took you as his own. Thanks be to God for fathers. They give us a picture of God's grace in Jesus. And thanks be to God for His grace and love and gifts which go beyond all human fathers, which caused him to send His Son to come in our place so we could be redeemed and exalted with Him. Amen. |