22nd Day of Lent

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Luke 15:1-6, NIV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

Reflection - Pastor Taylor Walker, Zion Lutheran Church, Spring City

Many churches have a motto – something quick and easy to say that’s printed on the bulletins or as a banner on the website. We call ourselves places of light, of good news, of celebration and love – all, to be clear, wonderful things. Imagine, though, a church with the proud motto: “these people welcome sinners and eat with them!”

Can you imagine such a place?

What if someone added a yelp review of your church and said this very thing?

Would you feel the desire to defend yourself? Would you wonder which group exactly they were referring to? Would you – perhaps – actually wear the review with pride?

I can tell you one thing. I know the pharisees and the priests thought it was an insult… that being in close relationship with sinners was unbefitting of a man of God. After all, we should hate the sin, shouldn’t we? Yet here Jesus tells his favorite story – different images all the time, of course, but the same old theme: God is close to the suffering, God is near to the vulnerable, God loves the weak and the lonely and the let-go. Of course God will chase after the lost sheep – the lost sheep is very important. Of course Jesus eats with sinners – the sinners are the ones who need the closeness of God. And we know that well, don’t we?

After all… every Sunday, Jesus comes to eat with us.

Meditation: When you see that image – the 99 sheep safe in the pasture and the one sheep lost in the cliffs – where are you? If you see yourself safe in community… I wonder how God might be calling you to help prepare a place within your pasture for the lost sheep, who may soon be delivered to you. If you see yourself on the cliffs, I wonder where you are finding restoration and safety these days – or if you need help finding it. (If you do, reach out to any of the pastors of this series, and let’s talk.)