Gospel Reading Luke 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 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. Does he not 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 neighbours together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Post Communion Prayer

Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy; and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall, keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Commentary

Well it is an interesting dilemma this morning presented by Jesus. Does God really rejoice more over one sinner who repents than 99 who are righteous? As I ponder this question my first response is to say, ‘I doubt it’, there are two reasons,

Firstly, Jesus is just making a point, it is a lesson which we all need to hear. We tend to be critical of the lost, and somewhat resentful that they can just walk back and say sorry.

Secondly, even to be asking this question shows just how misguided we all can be. Let me ask the question, how many righteous people do you actually know? Where are the 99? If we are honest we have to admit that each one of us is a lost sheep, there are now self-righteous people, just people who think that they are.

So today is party a lesson in not being self-righteous. It is self-righteousness which makes us resentful of God’s forgiveness, even though we desperately need it ourselves. God however is never resentful, he rejoices without any feeling of bitterness.

Imagine how the father of the prodigal son must have felt when his son asked him for his inheritance and went off to squander it on the wrong sort of lifestyle. The poor father must have had so many conflicting emotions, sadness at the lack of wisdom shown by the son, perhaps some resentment or even anger. We will never quite know, but we do know that he let the son go. He did not try and make him stay, or change his mind. He knew that the son had to go and find out for himself, so he allowed him to make his mistakes. Sometimes this is the only way that we can really learn, from our own mistakes. This is for us a model of what the love of God is like, allowing us to make mistakes.

Frequently parents see children make mistakes and they know that these are exactly the kinds of things which they themselves did! Sadly we cannot put old heads on young shoulders. All that we can do is to be there when they come home, perhaps realising the error of their ways, and make sure we don't say I told you so. This is how God is with us. God allows us to make mistakes, even big mistakes, we learn the hard way. God is there for us and welcomes us back without the hint of recrimination, just love and forgiveness. The readings this morning show that God cares deeply for those who are lost and far from him. God isn't resentful when they are found or angry that they strayed, rather God rejoices. Are we able to rejoice in welcoming back the lost or would we be more likely to tell them that is was their own fault. 

It is hard for us to be prepared to accept people when they seek forgiveness. It is a human trait to be critical and willing to judge, we naturally think God wants people to be punished. To err is human but to forgive is divine. Its hard for us to forgive, it has to be conditional; and measured and not too freely given in case it encourages bad behaviour. Perhaps it is because our own ability to forgive is so limited that we want every drop of God's grace metered and paid for, in case there just isn’t enough to go around! It's hard for us to forgive and so we think that God's forgiveness has to be earned in some way, even if it is only by asking for it properly. Forgiveness however is easy for God, it is God's nature.

There is another important feature of the 'Lost' theme today. Whilst we like to be critical of the Pharisees, we should remember that they would not have been angry with Jesus if his only message was that people who are lost should seek forgiveness. This would be called repentance and the Pharisees would have very approved of Jesus telling people to repent. The problem with jesus telling the story of the Lost Sheep and the lost Coin was that neither the sheep or the coin repented, in fact they were not capable of doing so, the coin is an object. The emphasis is not upon the feelings of the sheep or the coin,rather upon the nature of God and how God feels. The shpeep and the coin don't do anything to contribute towards their being found, God does all the work, because that is what God does, he seeks out the lost.

Sermons today which speak of the lostness of the human soul and the need to be sorry and God welcoming us back when we do rather miss the point. The story is not about us and how wicked we are, it is not about our need to say confession or any exhortation to live better lives. The message is about God and the fact that he will become exhausted, go to any lengths to find what is his and has been lost. God is not going to give up, God is relentless and will leave no stone unturned looking for that which has gone astray. And let this be understood, the sheep and the coin have contributed nothing, didn't know they were lost.

This searching nature of God is what causes to sing about 'a love that wilt not let me go.' This is why the illustration of a shepherd is such a good one, looking for errant sheep is what shepherds do, they go and put themselves in danger looking for stupid sheep who don't even know they have gone astray. Jjesus said "The Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost." This was an important message fore the Pharisees to hear, if they as the "shepherds of Israel" will not tend the flock, or bring back the strayed, then Jesus, the Good Shepherd will.

Why does the shepherd search for the lost sheep? Is it because it is a favourite sheep? Is it because the sheep is a special sheep? Or because it has a woollier coat than the rest of the sheep? No! The only qualification the sheep has which justifies leaving the other sheep and going off after it, is that it is lost. So too Jesus cares for the lost, because they are lost and seeks them out. We so often get concerned about our qualifications for God, are we good enough for him to bother with us? And perhaps the church has and still does reinforce this, making hurdles over which we have to cross before we are good enough. I think of the teaching that you can't have communion because you're not confirmed yet. Does Jesus, who shares his last meal with the disciples only come after those who have passed the test?

As a priest my task is to reassure people of God's forgiveness and as Christians that is something which we should all do. God calls you to share in that priestly task, it is your job too. Jesus shows us from the cross that he forgives even when people do not ask for it. The Christian faith teaches us that God cares for all of us and especially the lost, we are never beyond redemption, we are never so far from God that he gives up on us. The further we have fallen, the deeper God's grace to rescue us.

Self righteousness and begrudging attitudes are alive and well, they didn't die out in 1st century Palestine. There are those who like the brother of the prodigal son will resent the fact that God is so forgiving. For many people recovery of the lost means that we are only happy when people decide that they want to join us and be like us. For Jesus recovery of the lost meant taking time to befriend and to associate with the lost. Even if it meant getting his own reputation tarnished. Think of the stories and gossip which there must have been about Jesus as a result of the company which he kept. 
We can sometimes begrudge the mercy of God being so freely given to the undeserving. We don't like people who threaten us, who appear different, who don't measure up to our standards. So it is that Jesus tells these two stories from our lesson this morning to show that God has time for each one of us. Even when the rest of the world thinks that we are too far gone, Jesus comes after us and carries us home.   Charles Royden

Meditation

When the people got impatient with Moses for spending so long up the mountain speaking with God they gathered around Aaron and made a golden calf to worship from their ear rings. Even though God was angry with their actions He still said that he would make the Israelites into a great Nation. We might have expected God to give up on the Israelites over their behaviour, but He did not. We might have expected Jesus to give up on the ‘Tax collectors and sinners’ who were lost from God, but He did not. God is patient and forgiving. Even though we may give up on Him from time to time, He never gives up on us.

Hymns

1. All earth was dark
2. For I'm building a people of power
3. Go forth and tell
4. Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
5. Ye servants of God

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

"Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian.
If it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die."

Lord, you have consecrated the world by sending your Son into the midst of it and by making all things new in Him. We ask you to give us and all your people the courage and power we need to share fully in His mission to the world and to further His kingdom in the lives of all people to the honour and glory of His name. Amen

O God, you have called men and women from every land to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, the church of your dear Son: unite us in mutual love and care across the barriers of race and culture, and strengthen us in our common task of being Christ and showing Christ to the world He came to save. Amen

Draw your Church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our Lord Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving Him in His mission to the world, and together witnessing to His love on every continent and island. Amen.

God the Sender, send you; God the Sent, go with us; God the Strengthener of those who go, empower you, that you may go to do His will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Gracious God, like a mother you give us new life, and make us your children in Jesus Christ. Look on us in your love, and bring us to the inheritance which you promised. Grant this through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen. (Methodist Worship)

God our Redeemer, who called your Church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us so to proclaim the good news of your love that all who hear it may be reconciled to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Additional Resources

Readings, Notes and Prayers

Opening Verse of Scripture, Philippians Chapter 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Collect Prayer for the Day-Before we read we pray

God our Redeemer, who called your Church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself; help us so to proclaim the good news of your love that all who hear it may be reconciled to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Bible Reading, Jeremiah Chapter 4:11-12, 22-28

At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgements against them."

"My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good." I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away. I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger. This is what the LORD says: "The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely. Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back."

Second Bible Reading, Luke Chapter 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 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. Does he not 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 neighbours together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Post Communion Prayer

God, the source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread, and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Commentary

Chapter 15 of Luke contains three different stories about finding lost things, lost sheep, lost coins and a lost (prodigal) son. It also tells us about the celebrations that take place when these lost things are found. As it does, it picks up one of the great themes of Luke, the joy of blessings showered on God’s faithful people as a result of repentance and finding new life. But the passage in Luke is not just about getting people to repent and finding new life; it’s also about valuing people as people, even when they’re lost. One of the ways Jesus shows those around Him that He values people is that He enters into close relations with them, even if they are people that the established religious order would never reach out to, the tax collectors and sinners, people of low repute. Jesus meets them on their terms. He is not prepared to write them off, as his critics did, or to say, as they would have: I will value you and welcome only if you repent. Jesus seeks out the lost, evens the lost who don’t know they’re lost, and values them as they are. He seeks out those who society may have written off as losers, no hopers, wasters, and gives them life and hope. Jesus seeks out the large and the small to redeem and value. In our own lives, He seeks out those areas which we may have written off; areas that we prefer to hide and not speak about, habits we have we wish we didn’t, areas of our lives we hope no one sees. He seeks them out because He wants to redeem those too and give us hope in the ‘no go’ areas of our lives.

God also wants to use us to seek out the lost and the hopeless and give them His hope and His direction. Part of our mission activity is exactly that, seeking out situations that seem hopeless and giving hope; through our prayers, time, effort, resources and money whether at home or abroad. God calls out to the lost people and places in our lives and in our world and values them for who and what they are, and who and what they can become. As He does, so should we.

And once the lost are found, we should rejoice and celebrate. Because in being found, in turning around and repenting, in discovering true value, all creation comes that little but closer to being restored to the way God intended it to be. And as we celebrate and rejoice, Heaven does too. Sam Cappleman.  

Meditation

In times like this we realise how weak and inadequate we are, and our greatest need is to turn in repentance and faith to the God of all mercy and the Father of all comfort. If ever there was time for us to turn to God and to pray as a nation, it is now, that this evil will spread no further. It is also a time for us to remember the words of the Psalmist: 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ... He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God ... The Lord of hosts is with us.'" (Ps 46:1-2, 9-11) Billy Graham

Prayer

Grant, O God, that we who are one in our need of your forgiveness, may be one in our acts of compassion. May we who are made one in your love become one in our common life. May we who speak many languages dwell together as one race, in unity with our one heavenly Father; and this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy and Gracious God, Blessed Trinity, in your Son you have taught us that nothing in life or death is able to separate us from your love. We pray for the people of the United States of America, and people of other nations, affected by the terrorism in America in these recent days. May our world leaders be led by your wisdom. Comfort those who have lost loved ones. Support the injured and those near death. Inspire the emergency services. Lighten the darkness of those who are near despair. Do not let threats multiply or power be used without compassion. Rekindle hope in our lives, so that we may not walk alone through the valley of the shadow of death, through Christ our Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.

God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Teach us, O Lord, to love you, to trust you and for ever to praise you. Let us exalt your name both in the day and in the night. Let us serve you both in the house of prayer and in the world about us. Let us ascribe to you with all your saints both wisdom and majesty, both honour and glory, world without end. Amen. Henry Vaughan, 1621-1695

Our loving Father, we give thanks for your goodness and love; for the joy of home and family, and the companionship of friends and neighbours; for the strength that supports us and the love that surrounds us, both when our joy is complete and when it is touched by pain. We give thanks for your Son Jesus Christ: the glory of his humble birth, the graciousness of his selfless life, the obedience and trust that led him to the cross, and the triumph of his resurrection and ascension. We give thanks for your Holy Spirit at work in your Church and in our hearts, revealing your truth, renewing our lives, and bringing us to your eternal Kingdom. Alexander Siatwinda, Zambia/Halifax

God of light and love, visit this land with your healing power. In your compassion restore wholeness to communities blighted by disease, destruction, and loss of hope: have mercy on your whole creation, and guide us to wise stewardship of your beautiful world, that all your creatures may live in peace and health. We ask this in the name of him in whom all things are made new, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Michael Cruchley, Secretary of the Cytun Rural Network, Wales

Hymns

1. We rest on thee
2. O let the Son of God
3. The Servant King
4. O God our words cannot express
5. Lord Jesus Christ

Sermon (Jesus' Attitude to Sinners) and Intercessions