The Lost are found in Joy

 Luke 15:1-10 is the lectionary text for Pentecost XIV.

It was ALL the tax collectors and sinners who were coming to hear Jesus teach.  They were voluntarily coming to receive His Good News of Agape Love and Grace.  Could it be, under Empire's injustices, that they saw in Jesus a message of life that was different and just?  Could it be that they were tired of seeing people get hurt, and having to exploit others just to survive under empire?   Could it be that they were ready to walk away from empire and its ways and values to live a different life, the Way of Jesus?

The Pharisees and Scribes were in opposition to Jesus, and here criticize Him for socializing with tax collectors and sinners.  They had more to lose by living in Jesus' Way, for they were benefitting from the corrupt system and cashing in on peoples' sins.  They were preaching and teaching extreme justice in order to stay in control over the people and exploit them for more power and wealth.  They were preaching self-righteousness in order to keep status above others by making appearances of being pious and godly.

Jesus preached forgiveness and mercy.  There was no power over anyone in that, nor any profit or status to be had at their expense.  

Jesus preached the love of God, and there was no way to monetize that for their own gain, especially if it was Agape, that self-sacrificing and unconditional love of Jesus.

Jesus preached community, and there was no way in that to exploit individuals by lifting up individual sins and by offering individual salvation through sacrifice to them.

It was the religious leaders and the political figures who opposed Jesus.  It was the "sinners" and tax collectors, ostracized and hated by most, who came to Jesus.

So, the sinners (amartwloi) and tax collectors – those who did not measure up, who were outside the bounds of the core values for the people of God, were coming to Jesus to hear His Good News of agaph. It was the religious leaders who judged them and Jesus for associating with them, and who did not heed what Jesus taught as the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets - agaph.

So, when Jesus talks about the "LOST ONES," about whom is Jesus here speaking?  Is Jesus referring to the ones who are hungry to hear about Jesus' Way of living Kingdom values, or the ones who opposed Him because they have adopted empire values?  Is Jesus referencing the corrupt political and religious leaders who represent empire, or the many masses of folk who have been victimized by it and forced to do whatever they had to in order to survive under it?

Who are the LOST?

God, specifically Jesus, is ALWAYS the Shepherd, and the flock of sheep are the people of Israel.  When one is lured into the dangers of the world the rest suffer the loss, so when that one is found and returned to the flock of those who follow the Shepherd, there is great rejoicing!  Just so it is when one in a hundred who has been corrupted by the world returns to the flock of those who follow the Good Shepherd.  There is great rejoicing in all of heaven!  Hear that, you religious folk? God will celebrate your return!  Hear that, you who have power over others?  God awaits your return in joyful expectation!  Repent... change your thinking, so that your direction will change.  The Lord awaits, and so does the flock!

Women were very vulnerable in that society, and ten Drachma were about two weeks' pay for a laborer, so she could hardly afford to lose one of them.  She lost 1/10 of her whole check.  She would not eat for at least a day.  So many people around us live paycheck to paycheck in our own time, so many can relate to this woman and her struggle.  She diligently searches, panicked and desperate to find her only means of feeding herself and/or her family.  So, when she finds it, she rejoices greatly and includes her neighbors and friends in her rejoicing, because they can surely relate!  When a tenth is lost, it is a big deal in the Kingdom, too.  Rejoicing happens when that tenth is found that was lost.  Hear that, religious folk?  There is great rejoicing in your return to the Kingdom!  Hear that, you have position and power, control over others' lives?  God rejoices when you, a minority of the whole, find your way back to the Kingdom!

Note that it does not matter how the sheep wandered off or how the coin got lost, or whether it is one in a hundred or one in ten, God actively seeks you out!  God comes looking to bring you back!  The Holy Spirit of God is working to bring you home!  There is hope for religious and political leaders!  Whether you respond to Jesus or repent of opposing Jesus, there is hope for you!

"Come home, come home, you who are weary come home.  Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling all sinners come home."

Sin is the great equalizer.  "We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  I read that somewhere.  Jesus' Grace is also the great equalizer.  The Good News draws us to Jesus, the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus and to repent of opposing Jesus.

There is hope.

And when we are found, there is great rejoicing in heaven, AND in the flock or the neighborhood!

The Lost are found in Joy!