“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” (Luke 15:1-10)?
How can one not often feel lost in this crazy world? And at times, we can be so painfully aware of our failings and sins.
Jesus the Good Shepherd is a comforting image for us all: we love the icons and paintings that represent Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and each of us knows that we are the lost sheep the Lord carries on his shoulders.
But note what the Lord says:
What man wouldn’t leave the 99 for the one?
Well, in our normal thinking, we would never abandon 99 to go find one. That would cause anxiety - it wouldn’t make sense! Especially in the desert! As comforting as the image of Christ the Good Shepherd is, let’s ensure we don’t domesticate it by being too comfortable with it.
Let us understand the cost and the stakes for the Good Shepherd, as well as what He is really after.
Let us understand why He left the 99 to go after one.
The Good Shepherd, the all-powerful and most High God, God who is love and mercy itself — did not leave the 99 to go after the one so that you and I could feel comforted when we have a problem.
He did it so we could be saved. To conquer sin and death. So that we can have life – eternal life – and so that all things can be made new!
The Good Shepherd calls us to be united with others and even to sacrifice ourselves.
God loves us so much, that He will leave the 99 to go after one.
