Home » Ministers' resources » Worship Resources » Preaching Kits » Year C Luke » Kit 7 » Pentecost 15

Pentecost 15

12 September 2004

Luke 15:1-10 “Found!”
Background
…….the Pharisees and scribes were murmuring, saying “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” And Jesus responds with two parables. The parables need to be understood against the background of the time. It was an offence to the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus associated with those labelled as “sinners”. They called them “The People of the Land” – to marry a daughter to one of them was like exposing her bound and helpless to a lion. Pharisaic regulations said “…..entrust no money to him, take no testimony from him, trust him with no secret, do not appoint him guardian of an orphan, do not make him the custodian of charitable funds, do not accompany him on a journey, do not have him as a guest or be a guest in his house, do not have unnecessary business dealings with him.” It is in this context that Jesus tells these parables.

These twin parables (“what man, what woman” – a sign of Luke’s inclusiveness) illustrate concern for those who lack the ability to draw near to God – Luke underlines God’s concern to seek them (see v4 “until he finds it” in contrast to Matt.18:13 “if” he finds it). Matthew’s sheep goes astray and if it is found there is rejoicing. Luke’s sheep is lost and is sought until it is found. God is portrayed as the shepherd who lovingly seeks and gently restores the lost. Both parables speak of the joy of finding that which was lost.

Note that the ninety-nine are left in the wilderness while the search goes on. (It is only in the old hymn that the ninety and nine lay safe in the fold.) The shepherd loves the lost sheep enough to risk all in finding it. To risk his own life in caring for the sheep was all in a day’s work.

The woman’s ten silver coins represent about 10 days wages and many months of saving. Palestinian houses were very dark and the floor was beaten earth covered by dried reeds and rushes. Looking for a coin was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack, but she too seeks “until she finds it”. It is probably part of the head dress she wears as a married woman – similar to our wedding ring – so it is precious. The joy of finding it is so great it must be shared – she gives a party! There is no giving up in either story – and it is the seeker (God) who takes the initiative.

Preaching
What perspective will we take as we consider these stories? We can either preach the parables from Jesus’ perspective, addressing critics, or as the ones who need to hear Jesus. Locating ourselves in the story will tend to make us more understanding of those who disagreed with Jesus.

Who are the ones of whom we want to say “Oh no, not them Jesus!”

What is our sense of being so loved that God takes the initiative to “find” us when we have strayed – and to recognise those “People of the Land” in our context who are so loved that God is prepared to risk “all” for them?

There are two contrasting images of God here – we are used to thinking of “the good shepherd”, but what of the house keeper God?

1 Timothy 1:12-17
God saves/loves the lost. Support for the Gospel reading

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Jeremiah expresses concern at the breakdown of the people’s relationship with God. He calls upon them to repent before it is too late.
We would do well to reflect on what we are doing with and to God’s “good” creation. The Gospel reading provides a note of hope.

Psalm 14
The Psalmist, like Jeremiah, expresses concern about those who do not “know” God who desperately searches to find even one who is wise.
The Psalmist asserts, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that God is present with the innocent sufferers and the victims and there will be restoration and rejoicing.

And for a “homely” image of God:

Bakerwoman God
Bakerwoman God,
I am your living bread.
Strong, brown, Bakerwoman God,
I am your low, soft and being-shaped loaf.
I am your rising bread, well-kneaded
by some divine and knotty pair of
knuckles, by your warm earth-hands.
I am bread well-kneaded.

Put me in your fire, Bakerwoman God,
put me in your own bright fire.

I am warm, warm as you from fire.
I am white and gold, soft and hard,
brown and round.
I am so warm from fire.

Break me, Bakerwoman God.
I am broken under your caring Word.
Drop me in your special juice in pieces.
Drop me in your blood.
Drunken me in the great red flood.
Self-giving chalice, swallow me.
My skin shines in the divine wine.
My face is cup-covered and I drown.

I fall up in a red pool
in a gold world
where your warm sunskin hand is there
to catch and hold me.
Bakerwoman God, remake me.

Alla Bozarth-Campbell, U.S.A In ‘No Longer Strangers’, WCC Geneva1986 p.54