Jesus is often criticized because He dares to seek out and sit with sinners! In today's reading He responds to the criticism with parables. As with all parables we note how meaning can shift as the principle characters and props are defined and redefined. I was horrified recently to come across a history of an Anglican Church congregation entitled "Saints among the sinners." It was horrific because of the implications of the claims this ACC congregation made for itself in the title of their history. We must be careful; if this were truly the mindset of this congregation today they would be in grave danger of an heretical reading of Scripture. It is so very important that we position ourselves correctly in our readings - it is imperative that we remember who Jesus came to love and die for.
Who among us would leave all, hazard all, risk all and labour tirelessly for another person - especially a despised stranger? Would you? Let us be careful how we answer! Before we answer let us consider this: why must Gospel missionaries spend so much of their lives begging support instead of teaching? Why do we not support them abundantly and without their asking? The most challenging work I have ever been given is that of raising support for missionaries in the field - it is heart breaking how difficult it is to encourage Christians to support our indigenous brothers and sisters in their ministry (see A Cross Mission). My heart aches for missionaries working in danger and poverty but I truly mourn the "Christian Church" in the west who allow their continued suffering. We do not surrender our "all." So let me leave that question hanging. Who among us would leave all, hazard all, risk all and labour tirelessly for the other - the forsaken - the rejected - the condemned - the dying?
The lesson we draw from these two parables today is that we are loved and desired and valued by God. We are so loved that God does leave all, hazard all, risk all and labour tirelessly for each of us; for we are the sinners to which God came and continues to come.
God demonstrates his own love for us,
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Romans 5
Again today in our Lenten journey we ask: when we are found by God, and restored by God to Himself how should we respond?
The second truth of these parables is that we are commissioned by Jesus to leave all, hazard all, risk all and labour tirelessly for the other - the forsaken - the rejected - the condemned - the dying, just as He did for us. We are given an amazing love; it is an amazing love that we have been given to give.
“Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I Myself will search for
my sheep and will seek them out." Ezekiel 34
Who among us would leave all, hazard all, risk all and labour tirelessly for another person? It is a tough question. God has revealed His loving heart. Father we pray that we will reflect that amazing love.
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4
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