Repent

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." (Luke 15:3-7)

The 99 are surrounded by wolves.  Shall we leave them to find the one who is lost?  It’s quite a moral dilemma.  The wolves chant: “Find the one…find the one…find the one…”  

What if the “one” was lost because of something we did?  We hurt that one.  We did something shameful.  Leaving the 99 may not be a choice. We must.  That is what a guilty conscience does.  It obliges us to right a wrong.  

We hope the 99 will understand.  Besides there is strength in numbers so the 99 should beat back the wolves if they resist together.  We assume and hope out of the 99 sheep there are many who will rebuke the wolves, even in the face of that danger.

Of course, the main message of this parable is: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”  Very few of us are part of the 99.  Most of us are like the one.  So, let’s make joy in heaven, and repent.

Deacon David Pierce