Being obnoxious

Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In the Name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, Amen.

As you know it always vital to consider the context of any gospel passage we read - to look at what has gone before, to look at its setting, to step back and get a bigger picture.

And, in todays, possibly familiar passage, considering the context makes all the difference.

At the beginning of this passage we are told that Jesus is surrounded by two sets of people - tax collectors and sinners on the one hand and scribes and Pharisees on the other.

The scribes and Pharisees are grumbling about him hanging our with the tax collectors and sinners.

So, he tells them a story.

And, as is his wont, Jesus places them in that story.

He says to the scribes and the Pharisees - which of you…

Which of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one, would not leave the 99 to go and find it?

The question - or the challenge Jesus is making seems to be making is - would you go and seek the lost?

Would you leave the comfort you know to show concern for those outside of your circle?

I suppose that’s the way I’ve always understood that parable - perhaps you have too. A call to us as spiritual leaders to go and find those who’ve lost their way.

But in todays world - and the gospel always has a word to speak into our current climate, in todays world, I wonder if the challenge is not something else.

In todays world of social isolation, of religious and political difference, of economic uncertainty and fear of those who are different from us. In this world, perhaps the parable, speaks to us as the 99.

The 99 who have stayed together, remained within our comfort zones, stuck with what we know, hung out with those who are like us, even done good and charitable things.

Perhaps it speaks to us as the 99 whose actions have nonetheless proved exclusive.

The 99 who have made it plain that we’re fine as we are - and don’t need to worry, that we have resources and enough to share.

That if folk want to join in, fair enough, but on our terms.

Perhaps we’re the 99 who wait quietly, huddled together for safety and security.

We are weary.

And that’s perfectly understandable.

Together we’ve endured global trauma and upheaval - that shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

And in our own political climate, there appears to be little good news - quite the opposite.

No wonder we’re weary.

No wonder we want to rest with those we know.

We do what we can with the resources we have.

We go through the motions.

What is missing is JOY.

The two stories Jesus tells - of the lost sheep and the lost coin - they both end Rejoice with me .

They both end with communal rejoicing.

Lord knows, there has been precious little of that around, for sure.

And the immediate future is not looking too hopeful either.

So what would connecting with that joy look like, for us and for those we serve today?

I believe it looks a lot like love.

Like love and grace.

Shining the light of love and grace in a world that is overwhelmed by darkness.

Yesterday, I spent the morning on Girvan Beach, making some beach art intended to raise awareness of suicide.

Commemorating the 753 deaths by suicide that have affected Scottish families and communities in the last year.

In the afternoon, I was working with a team who run a soup bus in Ayr.

And one of the things I asked them to do, was write affirmations for one another.

To write down the things they saw in their colleagues that made a difference to the lives of others.

We are surrounded by those who feel hopeless.

By those who never hear words of affirmation.

There is joy in heaven over one person who rediscovers the light of love and grace.

There is joy in heaven over one person who discovers that they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

And I want to add - that there is joy in heaven over one of the 99 who recognises and has the courage to say  that our institutions do not care for the most vulnerable in our communities. Not even close.

There is joy in heaven over one of the 99 who will say charity is not the answer.

Food banks and warm banks should not be part of the fabric of our society, should not be celebrated, however well intentioned, as something we can provide.

Our importance is not in normalising what is gross injustice but in being as obnoxious as the prophets, Jesus included, were.

Calling out what divides and excludes and widens the gap between rich and poor, the in and the out.

There is rejoicing in heaven when the 99 find a way to stand in the gap, making a bridge that links communities in opposing injustice until all know themselves as sheep of God’s own searching and lambs of Gods own finding.

In the midst of grief and despair today, God invites us - Rejoice with me.

Let’s recover the joy in our faith by reclaiming our activism as prophets of God, calling out the injustice in our world, not just seeking the lost but recognising how we have to change to live as Gods people today in the kingdom that has room for all.

In that place, God invites us: Rejoice with me.

Amen.