Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost (C) 2019

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Luke 15:5-7
Theme: The Seeking Shepherd



Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

The angels are prayerfully hopeful. About what? What are angels hopeful about? They are hopeful about the conversion of sinners. Angels are not self-absorbed. They are neither oblivious to, nor uninterested in human fate. The image of guardian angels assisting people in need is widely understood, so it would be inaccurate to claim that people think angels are completely aloof. But apart from their vocational role of assisting us on an ad hoc basis, it’s easy to assume they are mostly absorbed with the worship of God. The Scripture describes “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.”1 Yet here, Jesus tells us about something else that fills the angels with joy. He says, “There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."2 It’s a marvelous mystery that angels are concerned with our welfare and it will be awesome to share their company in heaven.

The angelic joy is occasioned by the finding of the lost which Jesus connects here with repentance. Remember, the occasion for Jesus speaking this parable of the seeking shepherd is the disgust of the Pharisees and scribes that tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus. They deemed them to be unclean and unworthy; lost causes. They judged them to be beyond the scope of interaction for anyone who claimed- as Jesus did- to be a messenger of God. In short, they thought the holy blessings of God were not meant for the sinful people of the world. The lost would have to see to themselves.

But, dear friends, Jesus Christ comes seeking the lost. Many are distant from God, lost in sin, and they don’t even know it. God doesn’t wait. He doesn’t sit around fretting about whether people will miss Him in their lives. He goes looking. He doesn’t set up a control centre so He can remotely direct a search and rescue operation. God didn’t remain in heaven hoping for the best after Adam and Eve fell into sin. Jesus came searching. He came to the darkness. He left the place of perfection and came to the state of corruption. He left unity and came to discord. He left the communion of truth and came to the chaos of falsehood. He left the realm of life and came to the dimension of death.

The Bible makes it clear that in spite of all that we experience in this world that is good and beautiful and desirable, we live under the specter of death. The vitality of this existence is a borrowed vitality. We do not possess it independently or autonomously. In short, the Scriptures call on us to recognize that life- in all its aspects and with all its struggles- is truly a gift from the Almighty. There is not a single child that is conceived and born that we should not consider to be a miracle. (Kye Jachmann is certainly no exception.) There is not a ray of sun that shines or a drop of rain that falls that we should fail to credit to the generosity of God. Can we bring these things to pass under our own power? Can we cause the heart to beat one single time apart from the power of God? And in spite of this preserving power of God, the consequence of sin is still death. No one can escape it.

So, Jesus came bringing the power of incorruptible life. He didn’t come with an attitude of self-preservation but of sacrifice. He didn’t come in arrogance, but humility. Jesus came, the all-powerful Son of God wrapped in swaddling clothes. He came, the holy and blameless Messiah, and subjected Himself to a cruel and unethical crucifixion. But not even that- not even His death- could stop His pursuit of our salvation. He marched right out of the grave securing for believers immortal life. He lives. He reigns. He will come again in glory.

Meanwhile, through His word and His Spirit and His sacraments, He is seeking the lost. In baptism He comes to those still in the darkness of unbelief and gives them the light of faith. The Scripture says, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son.”3 In Holy Communion He comes to baptized, instructed, and repentant believers with food for the journey. It is easier for Satan to lead the spiritually emaciated off the narrow road. God fortifies us against his schemes.

Maybe you’re feeling a bit lost? Maybe that’s why God has brought you to His house today? Maybe some of your most important relationships are fragile or full of conflict? Maybe your financial footing is not very stable? Maybe you’re struggling with temptation, addiction, or depression? Maybe you’ve suffered abuse or have yourself been hurtful or domineering towards others? Maybe you’re anxious about what the future holds?

Active Christians too, can feel lost. Temptation is always before us and even faithful believers head off in the wrong direction away from the will of God. The biblical examples can be multiplied many times. Noah got lost in drunkenness after his epic journey on the ark. Lot’s wife got lost in regret turning back to what was instead of forward to what would be and turned into a pillar of salt. King David was lost in the sins of adultery and murder. God sent Nathan the prophet to him and turned him in repentance. Hannah was lost in grief, God sent her a son. Thomas was lost in doubt, Peter was lost in denial, Judas was lost in betrayal. Only Judas despaired, hardening His heart and remaining determined to not be found by the Lord.

So, don’t hide from your sins. Don’t deny your shortcomings. Don’t waste time and energy trying to justify yourself before God or others. Christ is the one who justifies you. He gave His life for it. Don’t pretend to be someone or something you’re not. God knows you inside out anyway. Nothing can be hidden from Him. And people figure us out too- sooner or later. So, it’s no good trying to keep up appearances.

Believe God when He says to you, “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”4 Again, when He says, “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins though His name.”5 And again, “I, even I, am He who blots our your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”6 Christ never turns away those who cast themselves on His mercy. The repentance of one sinner fills angels’ hearts with joy. Even more importantly, it fills the Saviour’s heart with joy and that of the entire community. What does Jesus say about finding the lost sheep today? “When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”7 Jesus is the Seeking Shepherd. He intends to bring us home. Thanks be to God!

+ In nomine Jesu +

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
15 September 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Hebrews 12:22 2 Luke 15:10
3 Colossians 1:13 4 2 Corinthians 6:2
5 Acts 10:43 6 Isaiah 43:25
7 Luke 15:5-6