Lost and Found – Are you Ready to be Transformed?

The parable of the Lost Sheep is found in Matthew 18:12-14, in which a shepherd leaves his flock of 99 in search of one lost sheep. That the shepherd rejoices more over that one that was lost and now found than over the 99 that were safe the entire time can be disconcerting to a humanity that thinks that the bird in hand is more valuable than the two in the bush.

What? But, I’m part of the 99! What about me? Why does God love that lost soul more than me? This is a problem with taking a few verses out of context, where the meaning is bent to focus on self.

Matthew 18 Begins with the disciples asking Jesus, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And Christ gives multiple examples of how God’s grace is not measurable in human terms and how earthly ideas of power are in Heaven irrelevant. The disciples are ultimately asking where they will rank in that kingdom.

Today, our reality “what about me” mentality narrows our understanding on “one”.

Christ compares humankind to sheep. Why sheep? Creatures that are a prey species, bond closely and have a flock mentality. They are emotional and were one of the first animals to be domesticated. These animals need a shepherd to watch over them as they graze in the wild. Like our God watches over us today, it is our need for a higher power to watch, care for, love and provide for every need.

Yet the Biblical shepherd’s role was one removed, other, dirty and one of servitude. Consider how David, the illegitimate son, was given this role, but it is from these unexpected placed that God plucks the unlikely to rise. Consider how Christ lived and eventually became “other” to the point of crucifixion.

For all these concepts, our understanding is wrapped up in our humanity. Our worldview as humans created in God’s image, the gardener, caretaker, domesticator and namer of animals; informs our self-image as elite, special, and above all other animals. So, in Matthew to be relegated to the sheep and worse yet the 99 left behind, as our Shepherd (Lord) searches for that “one”, who “He will rejoice over” is humbling. Matthew repeatedly points out that our humanness blocks our understanding of the depth and vastness of God’s love and grace.

God’s infinite grace dissolves our perceived specialness; allowing a new transformation of “oneness” with God.

This is why our gathering, reading, discussing, praying as a community of Christ is so vital. We only know our human experience, but to know God, we get glimpses of a goodness beyond our comprehension. Together we may make sense and be able to support each other whether we are among the 99 or are that “one”.

We humans are so fickle and like sheep, emotional. Today I may identify myself with the 99, but throughout a lifetime there will be days, moments, when I too am that lost “one”, ready to be found and transformed by Christ.

Questions for thought:

1.      Do you most identify with the “one” or the 99?

2.      God calls us to be transformed by our relationship with Him and each other; how do you weather change?

#lostfoundtransformed

#LivingWatersCL

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