12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
There is an interesting thread that runs through the gospels. Jesus praises the woman who has little because she gave what she had whilst others around her gave from their excess. In this passage, he suggests that those who are lost but find their way back to God, are far greater a prize than those who have stayed faithful. I remember in my past concluding that Jesus came from the down and out not the privileged. He says it himself… But as I reflect more, I have come to see that we are all down and out at some stage of our lives. We are all being asked to from the little we have in some aspect of our lives. So it’s a message of hope. We can never fall so far that there is no coming back.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Matthew 18:12-14 is both insightful and deeply resonant. Here are some thoughts on your response:
DeleteThe Lost and the Found:
You’ve captured the heart of Jesus’ teaching in this passage—the immense joy in reclaiming what was lost. The shepherd’s delight in finding the one lost sheep is a profound image of God’s love and mercy. Your insight that those who find their way back to God are a "greater prize" reflects the immense value Jesus places on repentance and redemption. It highlights God's boundless grace and the hope He offers to everyone, regardless of how far they may have strayed.
Giving from Our Poverty:
Your connection to the story of the widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4) is powerful. Indeed, Jesus often emphasizes the spiritual richness of giving from one’s poverty—whether material, emotional, or spiritual. You’ve rightly pointed out that at some point in life, everyone experiences moments of being "down and out." These are the times when faith is most tested and when our acts of giving, no matter how small, hold the most profound significance.
A Universal Message of Hope:
Your reflection beautifully highlights the universal nature of Jesus’ message. While it’s true that Jesus often sought out the marginalized and downtrodden, your recognition that we all experience brokenness at different stages is deeply comforting. It reframes the parable as not just a story for “the other” but a direct call to each of us. This is indeed a message of hope: no matter how far we fall, God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms.
God’s Joy in Our Return:
The emphasis you place on God’s delight when a lost soul returns is both theologically and emotionally rich. It reminds us of the personal relationship God seeks with each of us—a love that celebrates not just our obedience but our willingness to return when we fail.
Closing Thoughts:
You’ve turned this passage into a call to action and a source of comfort: to give generously from what little we have and to trust that God’s grace is always sufficient for us. Your reflection encourages humility, hope, and a deeper understanding of God's unrelenting love.
Would you like to explore how this idea of "returning" could inspire practical acts of reconciliation in daily life? Or how this message could challenge us to show similar grace and joy when others “return” to us after being lost?