Keepers of the House
Preacher: Marcia C. Wilkinson

Sunday, Septebmer 16, 2007

Luke 15:1-10

When Jesus wanted to make a strong point he repeated himself for emphasis.  These two parables have the same message: sinners, social outcasts, and even those despised, are welcome to table fellowship.  In the Jewish tradition breaking bread together was the act of acceptance.  Table fellowship was not only a critical matter for Jesus; it would become so for the early church and of course the church today.

In our gospel lesson Jesus is speaking with the keepers of the law- the Pharisees- regarding his reason for eating with sinners and outcasts.  Before we move too hastily to condemn the Pharisees for considering people unacceptable we must remember that Old Testament Israel is warned not to eat with evil persons, those who did not belong as chosen people of Israel, so as not to be defiled by gentile presence.  It is reasonable therefore that the leaders should challenge Jesus on his behavior.

Jesus’ action was intentionally radical and disturbing - then and now.  He seeks out the lost- sinners.  The sheep that have wandered off, as well as the coin that is lost- are to be found.  So strong is the love of the lost sheep that the 99 are left while the shepherd goes off to rescue the one.  Risky business to leave the 99 without the caregiver to steer them, and risky business too for the one who willingly looks for the one who has been irresponsible and wandered into places of great danger and harmful destruction.

The parables emphasize Jesus’ desire to save those outside the loop, those in the fray, those who in our eyes aren’t good enough for God to worry about.  Yet, going all out for the one, recovering him, carrying him home and finding joy in saving him is just what Jesus is about.  When rescued, joy is there and it must be shared.  No sheepish rejoicing either--but a full choir of angels in heaven singing their hearts out--celebrating with God the Father.

The parable is our story today.  A wayward soul goes off on his own to do his own thing, maybe seeking greener pastures away from the master. His independence gets him into all sorts of trouble with devastating consequences.  As the potential for danger mounts, the most powerful loving master in the universe leaves the rest of the group, searches out the delinquent, lifts him from danger and carries him home.  Then, he throws a huge party with all of heaven joining in.

What does this mean for us?  Our first comment might be that it all seems too easy.  What about repentance?  Where do the broken spirit and the guilt and confession come in?  Does God condone what the sinner has been up to, going off and doing his own thing, getting into deep trouble, while sinning ad lib?  What about the act of contrition in all of this rescuing and the need to repent before being forgiven?  When seen from our perspective, these are the normal questions to ask.  But the truth about Jesus Christ is not like human rationale.

Jesus came to save sinners.  Period.  He wants us back in his fold.  He wants the stranger welcomed and he wants the straggler to be encouraged to come home to him.  He wants the selfish, the pig headed, the stiff necked, the pothead, the addict, the discouraged, the angry, the adulterer, the greedy, the goody two shoes- anyone stuck on the edge of a cliff with no safe place to go.  In other words, he wants all who are in need, with no exceptions.  The righteous- well, the righteous ones are needy too, and they are righteous only because they know they are needy and have been covered by the grace of Jesus in their lives.  No one is exempt.

I believe that means everyone.  All have been separated from God.  All must come to realize we are lost and need to be rescued and to be wrapped around the shoulder of the only one who saves.  Only by God’s grace and God’s Holy Spirit can we recognize that we are lost.  Only by God’s grace can we admit we are needy.  Only by God’s grace does his Son bring us into his fold and keep us under his covering of mercy and  joy.

What is grace?  Grace is God our Father waiting for his Son to rescue every lost and undeserving sheep.  And, the Father desires to celebrate that which is lost- not to condemn his creation- but to rejoice that again we belong to him.

This is the first of three weeks we will focus on stewardship.  And, you might well ask what does this gospel lesson have to do with stewardship?  I believe the lost being found is the foundation of stewardship.  Stewards are those who are given the treasure of the gospel and are to be caretakers for Christ.  We, who have been rescued as the lost sheep and saved for his purpose, have been entrusted with the matters of keeping guard over the flock, God’s people.  We have been given the privilege of building the foundation of Christian witness to the power of Jesus Christ to change and fill the lives of those lost and wayward.

Because Christ is the steward for us, and the Shepherd to lead us, we are deemed trustworthy to do these things as Christ’s flock.   We go out to the lost, and invite them back and Jesus saves.  In 1 Peter 4:10 we are reminded that every Christian is a recipient of God’s gift to be a steward of God’s grace.  Just as we can’t have a church without stewards to care for the physical church building which represents God’s presence with us- so we cannot be a church without stewards who care for the flock that belongs to God.  Jesus came to earth and went after sinners, you and me, and saved us for himself.  Now we are those stewards to go after the lost sheep under his direction- under his powerful Holy Spirit, with the anticipation there will be great celebration in heaven when one returns to God.

What is key here is admitting to ourselves that we (and all people) are in need of being found.  St. Augustine said:  “Before God can deliver us we must undeceive ourselves.”  This is difficult because of pride and because our notion of respectability rules the day.  Yet, the quality of respectability should have nothing to do with admitting lost-ness.  Respectable people must be honest that respectability does not omit our common need for health and salvation.  But, if pride rules the day and we deny the very condition that ironically is a way of being found, we lose out on the best gift of all.  While outcasts and irregular folks might ‘LOOK” LOST and readily admit to their state of need, some of us hiding in plain sight are also lost, and truly in need of Christ’s healing and forgiveness, his teachings and invitation to come to him.

What is “lost-ness”?  Separation from God.  Egos that cause us to wander away from our faith that has lost its roots, or has become jaded with life experiences.   Also, fighting destructive patterns, feeling powerless to change ourselves, powerless to change relationships gone sour, being away from the fold for so long that we don’t know how to come back, and experiencing such guilt for the past that shame seems easier to carry then letting it go for fear of being rejected.

So, as stewards of God’s grace through the gift of Jesus’ love and forgiveness to us, what might we do at ASC to make ‘outsiders’ ask: “why are you caregivers of the flock and why do you want the lost to come home?”  And our answer might be expressed: Because we believe Jesus wants us to tell his own story as the Good Shepherd who binds up broken hearts and gives new hope, and tells us we belong to him, and has a wideness of grace beyond what we can know or imagine.

Today’s good news tells us we are invited to turn around and come home!  Do you desire to be a steward?  There are suggestions for those who accept the challenge.  Grace in caring for others is God’s gift, the same as he gives us with his Son and Holy Spirit.  In caring, engage in routine prayer, with open ears and open eyes to those who might be in need, and discern about them, their relationship to God and with us.  Be available to offer hospitality to welcome them into fellowship, and desire to have them love the Shepherd anew.  Be regularly involved in ministry with the 99 who pray and worship together.

It may be bad economics to go off for one that is lost but it is faithful shepherding.  Jesus puts the relationship of shepherd to sheep ahead of practical considerations.  His extravagance calls us to be extravagant.  To be a lover of God is to love ourselves, our neighbor, our enemy, and, the lost.  A well-bred follower of Christ is an imitator of Christ, and a keeper of his house and people.  Jesus cares about the ones who aren’t here with us.  That is stewardship.   And, this stewardship will give joy in our giving.  Amen.