sermon83

“SEEKING AND SWEEPING”

Luke 15:^1-10

I can almost read your minds: Oh no, not another sermon on the last sheep and the lost coin. To be sure, these are favourite stories of the religious community, but for preachers who are serious about correct Biblical interpretation, these parables are some of the toughest stories to understand and preach. The two stories of today have a happy ending: the lost sheep and the lost coin are found. For years, I have read these stories and always felt very good because I identified with the lost sheep and the lost coin. I rejoiced that there was one who cared enough to come seeking, and I was the one who was found.

The truth is that these parables are deceptively profound. They need to be read and reread, because quite often we miss the intent of the story. After years of reading, I think I have come upon the intent of the parable. I had missed the point of Jesus' speaking. When Jesus told stories like these, he did not explain the details; he left that to our imaginations. Usually, when we read these stories we envision a shepherd with a staff, and a woman with a broom; and neither of them will give up until the object of their search is found. We admire that- and we should. The point we have to examine is to whom was Jesus addressing these remarks?

But before we examine the stories themselves, we need to look at the background from the gospel of Luke. Jesus has come into a town, and obviously his reputation had preceded him, because the scripture says that the tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking him to hear what he had to say. They were fascinated by the treatment they were receiving from this wandering teacher and this enraged the Pharisees and the scribes.
Once again, in this story tax collectors and sinners are lumped together. Why are they seen as such bad guys? William Barclay, the eminent Scottish theologian, gives us some insights on this matter. The orthodox religious leaders, and that is whom the Pharisees and the scribes represent, wrote off tax collectors and sinners as unworthy of acceptance, and worthy only of God’s destruction. To the orthodox, this event sounded like Jesus was saying there was greater joy over a repentant sinner than over the faithful believers. Why should their good behaviour rate less in heaven than an alleged repentant one? How do you tell that to kids?

Barbara Brown Taylor puts it this way in her book "The Preaching Life." Speaking about the Pharisees and the Scribes, and their reaction to the stories Jesus told, she states

“They are God-fearing believers, devoted disciples who do not merely talk about the life of faith. They live it, giving God’s law their full respect and scrupulous obedience. It is not an easy way of life, but they are willing to live it because they mean to set an example. They mean to show a healthy alternative to the ways of the world, showing people it is both possible and pleasing to live according to God’s will. They are not uninterested in sinners, they believe the best way to help them is to hold up a high standard, inviting theme to achieve it, letting them know they fall short, until finally, they are challenged to become the best they can be. It’s the kind of message that appeals to people. It makes the rules clear and rewards those who obey them.

Then Jesus comes along and starts to mess around with their system, treating sinners like special cases and making them think they are as important as other people. He socializes with them, with is as good as condoning their behaviour and thereby robs them of any motivation to do better.”

(Cowley Publications, Boston & London, “The Preaching Life.” Barbara Brown Taylor, 1993, Page 149f)

That’s how the scribes and pharisees felt, and you can see why they were upset. Jesus presented a process that was contrary to their religious convictions. That is precisely what is occurring within the Church of today. Our world is beset by groups and leaders who are advocates of righteous living, and isolation from those who don’t believe the same as they do.

The most common manner of evangelization is: here is the truth. This is the way believe. If you want to be part of us, repent and join up. It carries over to Church growth- here is what we do, join us! But what if they have no history of religious faith? What if they don’t even understand the words lost or sinner? There are Pharisees and scribes in today’s world, lots of them, and they mean well, but Jesus presents another way. The point I want you to consider is this; is it possible that today many people are turned off by the institution of the Church, which often stifles the simple message of Jesus?

Another of my favourite writers is Wes. Seeliger, an Episcopal minister in Texas. He writes his parable. Let me read it to you.

“Gertrude Gillespie was a bitter woman. She hated the world, she trusted no one, she had no friends. Gertrude, homely Gertrude, was a lost soul.

You see Gertrude was the homeliest woman in the world. Her hair was stringy. Her nose was too long. She knew nothing about cosmetics. She had no redeeming features. Gertrude avoided people whenever possible. Walled in a dark world, she was afraid to be seen in public. No boy friends, no phone calls, no fun.

One day a stranger came to town. He called himself Mr. ‘J’ and he claimed to be the best beautician in the world. Rumour was that he had been in town along time ago, but had gone away. Perhaps to Paris itself-beauty capital of the world. Anyhow, here he was. Mr. ‘J’s coiffures was open for business.

Mr. ‘J’ was more than an artist-he was a miracle worker. Ladies who patronized his salon were completely transformed. His fame spread so quickly that soon everyone knew about the wonderful, Mr.’J’.

Mr. “J” was a man of compassion. When he heard about poor Gertrude, he was deeply moved. So much so that he decided to go against beauty shop tradition and call to ask if she would like an appointment.

Gertrude was surprised to hear the phone ring. She thought to herself, Now who on earth would want to call me? She couldn’t believe it when it was Mr. ‘J’ himself. The great Mr. ‘J’ was calling her. Her heart almost stopped. With joy she accepted the appointment. She was fearful, of course. Who wouldn’t be? But she gathered her courage and resolved to be Mr. ‘J’s next miracle.

Gertrude was Mr.’J’s greatest challenge and he gave her the works: mud pack, new hairstyle, false eyelashes, nail polish. The session lasted all day; but it paid off. A beautiful new Gertrude walked out into the world. Without a doubt, she was Mr. ‘J’s masterpiece.

Gertrude startled everyone. Can this be Gertrude Gillespie? People asked. Everywhere she went men whistled and women stared enviously.
Gertrude had thought of herself as moose for so long that it took awhile to adjust to the change. But in time the mirror convinced here Mr. ‘J’s miracle was not just a dream. She really was beautiful. The more Gertrude looked at herself, the more she became conscious of beauty. She enjoyed people’s admiring stares and second glances. She would even stop in front of a store window and look at her reflection in the glass, relishing her transformation.

Before long, Gertrude began to notice other people’s blemishes. They don’t look so hot, she said to herself. The more she thought about it, the worse humanity began to look. Then Gertrude made a momentous decision: to dedicate her life to making ugly beautiful by bringing them to Mr. ‘J’

Gertrude was on fire for Mr. ‘J’. She had little cards printed; “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. She stood on street corners shouting, Mr. ‘J’ has returned…make an appointment or else! And you too can be beautiful liked m e. Just turn yourself over to Mr. ‘J’.

She would grab strangers and say, you look terrible; surrender your life to Mr. ‘J’. She was always careful to point out others faults, (for their own good, of course!) Change your lipstick. That eye shadow will never do. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that dress.

When people began to avoid her, Gertrude became bitter. They refuse to listen because they resent my beauty. If they won’t listen to me, they deserve what they’ll get.

Gertrude became withdrawn and sullen. Once again she walled herself within her own world. She could not stand to look at the unbeautiful. She avoided all contact with persons who did not accept Mr.’J’.

Gertrude Gillespie is a bitter woman. She hates the world, trusts no one, has no friends. Gertrude, beautiful Gertrude is a lost soul.”

(Forum House, Atlanta “One Inch From The Fence,” Wes Seeliger, 1973 page 103ff)

Does that sound like some Churches or some people that you know?

One time in Toronto, a verbal exchange was taking place in the narthex of the Church. When my associate at the time, Rob Oliphant, now coordinating minister at St George, Eglington United got there, he found that a few of the ushers were very verbally abusive to some young people whom they said, were not properly dressed for worship. I suppose if Jesus had walked in with sandals, dusty from the roads, he would have been treated similarly. Now I happen to be old enough to feel better when I am dressed up to worship, but that is not the norm in today’s world, and really, does it matter?

This week in the Vancouver Sun, two examples appeared in the Wednesday edition. The first dealt with a response by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict the 16th, stating that the books of the Harry Potter series were “subtle seductions capable of profoundly corrupting young Christians and turning them from the faith.” Well, Pope Benedict, one thing is for sure, you haven’t had any children. Harry Potter, in my view, is pretty tame stuff compared to some of the material children are exposed to in movies and on television. Kids have great imaginations, and are not threatened by so called magical powers, nor are they threatened by mind expanding imaginative excursions into the exotic expanses of myth and its universal themes. Pope Benedict, I suggest you worry more about world overpopulation, famine that kills millions of youth, devaluating the worth and ability of women, and exploitation on the part of members of your Church's clergy.

In that same issue was the truly frightening story of Mohammed Bouyeri, a dedicated member of a radical element of the Muslim faith. Mr. Bouyeri murdered the Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, and said he was driven by his religious conviction. Bouyeri said to the mother of van Gogh, who was attending the trial, “If I was released and would have the chance to do it again... I would do exactly the same thing.” Then Bouyeri turned to the mother and said, “I have to admit I don’t have any sympathy for you. I can’t feel for you, because I think you are a non-believer.” That is the sort of stuff that Jesus hated. When the criticism came to him on this occasion, Jesus told them the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin.

Then Jesus added, and this must really have irked them, there will be greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” You see the point. The story is not about receiving, or even being sought after. All these years, I have been wrong. The story is directed to the Pharisees and the scribes: which of YOU would not seek the lost sheep. If they agreed with him, they would validate his actions with the sinners. If they said no, they were saying an individual is not very important. Jesus made his point. There is no concern about the ninety-nine left all by themselves; that isn’t the point of the story. The point is, wouldn’t or shouldn’t you and I be seeking the lost one, as the shepherd in the story did?

The authorities are angry because Jesus is ignoring their pious pronouncements. He is talking with sinners, that is, those who are not part of the established religious community. Even worse, he is eating with them. Jesus is not nearly so interested in the rules or the practices as he is about the people. He is the seeker and the sweeper, and he challenges them to do the same and more. He says when a lost one is found, have a party and rejoice, because even the angels do that.

Two powerful stories: God loves those who don’t stray, they remain in the flock; and God loves those who are lost, contrary to the opinions of the religious authorities. We rejoice that we are a Church, a complete unit like a flock of sheep or a necklace of coins, but we know we have a task. Instead of setting up arbitrary standards which exclude people, we ought to be about the task of seeking and sweeping for those who have wandered from the pathway, and when they are found, we must rejoice and have a party.

Dr. Doug Lobb.

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