"No Limit to God’s Mercy" - Luke 15:1-19 - September 12, 2004

In these two parables, the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus is illustrating to the Pharisees that (1) everyone has value. The Pharisees had standards and rules people had to abide by to be part of the group. But, Jesus challenged their righteous attitudes by making faith inclusive. God does not exclude. God cares about everyone, especially those who are lost. Not only does everyone have value, (2) God is always looking for us. God cares about us so much that God will take the time to leave the flock unguarded and search for us. To find us may be like looking for a needle in a haystack, like the woman searching for the lost coin, but God will find us no matter how insignificant we think we may be. And (3) finding us and having us back home gives God great joy.

Our story begins with an eclectic group of people; tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and scribes. The Pharisees and scribes were troubled by the presence of outsiders in their midst. They made snide comments in the background, questioning Jesus’ inclusion of such low-lifes. To make his point that God is inclusive, Jesus used two other groups of people in society who were also considered second-class citizens; shepherds and women. Yet, they were the ones who cared about and sought after the lost.

One Sunday I was walking down the center aisle following the worship service to take my spot in the narthex. Just as I was leaving the sanctuary I noticed a familiar man, sitting in the back row. He was a transient. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was long and stringy. He looked at me and as I walked by I immediately recognized him. He had come to the church earlier in the summer in search for food. He was lonely, unemployed and not sure where to turn for help. I remember giving him a bag of groceries and a little spending money. In return he gave me a picture he had drawn of the Lord’s supper. It was crudely drawn and he had used crayons like some 5 year old might use in kindergarten. I kept it for a time but one day I was cleaning out my files and I discarded the man’s picture.

I wondered. What if I had framed his picture and hung it in my office? It was a gift, but I didn’t give it a high priority. I couldn’t remember his name and he didn’t come by to shake my hand after worship. I wondered if he now had work, or had finally settled down. Why was he in worship and what was he seeking?

When he looked at me our eyes made contact. I could see pain in his face and yet gratitude at the same time. He didn’t smile yet I acknowledged his presence with a nod. In retrospect I could boast of my goodness about helping someone who was down on their luck. On the other hand, I could take a look at myself as a person of privilege. Perhaps this was an agent of God searching for me. Perhaps it is I who am lost and not he at all. Perhaps this is God’s way of saying both of us are God’s children and included in God’s kingdom.

I am convinced that this story will have no meaning for you when you think about persons you know who are sinners or persons you believe are lost. The only way for this story to connect for you is to see yourself as one who is lost.

It is not God who hides from us, it is we who hide from God. We hide behind our pride. We hide behind our excuses. We hide behind our addictions. We even hide behind our goodness. God however is searching for us as the shepherd searched for his one lost sheep. God finds us and showers us with grace. We cannot escape the love of God.

Last week I mentioned that my van broke down on our return trip from our vacation. I told about how that event challenged my patience and how easy it is for us to get anxious about the problems of life. Last Monday was the real test. I had to begin the work week without my "wheels." Although my son and daughter-in-law loaned me their car, the aggravation of a major car repair bill was getting the best of me. I was a little short with my wife and not in the best of moods.

On Monday I had a friend check it out and we decided it could be in warranty. The next day he took it to the Dodge Dealer and he refused payment for his help. By Wednesday I was getting tired of using a borrowed car and I was determined that the Dodge company owed me a loaner. On Thursday I went to the Dodge dealer to check on my van and see about a loaner. The service manager (whose name was Ruth) told me that if I could manage one more day, I should have my car back on Friday. Two hours later I received a phone call that my van was ready. The engine had failed all because of a $3 part.

For me, that experience illustrates how easily we can get lost in our comfort zones and be anxious about things that are beyond our control. I lacked faith in God to find me and failed to see God’s shepherds looking after me. I was a recipient of God’s grace as God worked through the lives of mechanics and service managers.

It is good to be found or rediscovered. It is good that there are those who are willing to take their lights and search in the darkness helping the lost to find their way. It is good that there are those who are willing to make sure no stone goes unturned in order to find those who have slipped through the cracks.

God doesn’t want us to be lost in any form. Whenever we go down a path where we are unloving, unkind, indifferent to others or living without faith, we are living in darkness. It is precisely during those times when we need the light of God to show us the way. God wants us back and God is ready to welcome us and celebrate our return.

Jesus invited the Pharisees to join in the search for the lost. He challenged them to be inclusive and make an effort to bring others into the faith. At the same time he challenges us to be like the shepherd who searched for his missing sheep and to be like the woman who sought after the missing coin.

Two of my hobbies are collecting coins and collecting books. One of my book collections is called the "Happy Hollisters." It was a favorite in the fifties and my wife and I have managed to find about two thirds of them. As you recall we were forced to stay in Ashboro, North Carolina, an extra day because of Hurricane Charlie. That meant we had one full day to find things to keep us busy. Rather than watching 24 hour coverage of the hurricane we decided to drive around the town. We discovered an antique mall which gave us something to do with our time.

I combed every booth, searching for coins, books or other favorites. After about two hours of searching and browsing I came upon a booth full of books. On one shelf were about twenty "Happy Hollisters." I was ecstatic. To make things even better they were all half price. I purchased every edition I didn’t own which meant I was able to double our personal collection. We now proudly display them in our personal library at home.

It is such fun to discover something you are missing. Looking for coins and books to complete my sets is like a treasure hunt. When I complete a set it makes all my searching and hunting worth the effort. Imagine, how God must feel when those missing in the kingdom are found. Certainly God must be ecstatic too.

To be persons of faith means we are willing to go out of our way and find others, especially when the world perceives them as people who are not worthy. We are not lost when we actively pursue those who are outside the faith, searching and seeking until we find them. We are not lost when we value all people, especially those who are living in darkness. We are not lost when we are living in the light of God

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio