Wednesday Yr B Sunday between Jul 17-23
2 Samuel 9:1-13; Luke 15:1-7; Psalm 61
2 Samuel 9:1-13; Luke 15:1-7; Psalm 61
2 Samuel 9:1-13 (New International Version)
2 Samuel 9
David and Mephibosheth
1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“Your servant,” he replied.
3 The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“Your servant,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed dow
Luke 15:1-7 (New International Version)
Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Lost and Found
I hate it when I lose something. It bugs me until I search for it. If I don’t find it right away, then I sit down and retrace my steps to see if I can jar my memory. Sometimes the item is important, but sometimes it can seem insignificant. I hunt for it with the same diligence. My favorite hairbrush or my keys or a book I was reading. I’ve left them in silly places where I wasn’t thinking when I put them down.
The hunt is imperative. I don’t stop till I find it. The story today is about the Parable of the Lost Sheep. There are several interesting points in this story.
The first is that Jesus was hanging out with sinners and tax collectors —the low lifes of society. The religious leaders and teachers (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) were complaining about who he was hanging out with. This is true for people today. Church leaders and teachers are always ready to point the finger to criticize and condemn people who hang out with the wrong crowd. Bad influences. One bad apple spoils the bunch and then they are all bad apples.
The second is that Jesus directed his story to the teachers and leaders. He explained his need to hang out with the low lifes because they needed him. Just as a single lost lamb needs the saving hand of the shepherd, so do sinners need the saving hand of Jesus.
When is the last time I went looking for the lost sheep? What am I willing to do? Or am I more like the judgmental teachers?
Daily prayer: Help me Lord, not to be critical of those who would engage with sinners and bring the grace of God to them. Forgive me for thinking I know better than God. Fill me with your spirit of love and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
Memorize: 3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home.
