Extravagant
Today’s Gospel is about the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to rescue the one sheep that’s gone astray.
Like most Jesus stories, this one has a lot to tell us. Both in terms of what it says. And what it doesn’t say.
With what Jesus says, the point is clear.
God is the shepherd. You and I are the sheep. God’s love for us isn’t some vague sentiment directed towards humanity in general.
God’s love for us is personal. And extravagant. God loves us too much to throw any one of us away.
If you’ve ever thought about the decades of expertise, skill, and training present in the rescue, medical, and police personnel at the scene of an accident. Not to mention the cost for their services. Or the cost for all of their vehicles and equipment.
Comparing that absolutely necessary extravagance to God’s suprassing extravagance towards even one of us? I have nothing but respect for the first responders, but it’s like comparing a birthday candle to a bonfire.
But for me, what Jesus doesn’t say is the best part.
Notice what’s not there. There is nothing about how or why the one sheep went astray. Or who’s to blame. Or how many times its happened.
Is the one sheep worthy of being rescued because they were an unfortunate victim of something beyond their control? Or is the one sheep to blame for it all, because they did it to themselves?
Jesus’ answer is a resounding silence. Why?
Because that’s people garbage. We are hung up on that stuff. Not God.
(If you’ve ever wondered what it means in Isaiah when God says, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways?” This is what it means in practice.)
God doesn’t care about any of that. God has no qualifiers, no limits on His love for us.
God’s not saying, “You did this to yourself, you figure it out.”
God’s not saying, “You’re too far gone to be worth the bother.”
God’s not saying, “Again? What’s wrong with you?”
No matter how far you’ve gone astray. Or how many times. Even if you did it to yourself.
God loves you too much to throw you away.
Today’s Readings