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Second Week of Advent - Tuesday
December 7, 2004
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If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, will he not leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In the same way it is your Father's will that not one of his little ones be lost.
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Matthew 18: 12-14
The One Gone Astray
I have heard the parable of the lost sheep and the ninety-nine who did not stray for as long as I can remember. But like many of the parables, its meaning becomes clear only after listening to it with an open heart for a long time. I always thought that when Jesus told the story of the lost sheep, he was talking about someone else. I thought I was one of the ninety-nine. But with the modest portion of wisdom that comes with advancing age and the life-lessons of a fair number of mistakes, I begin to see that when Jesus speaks of the lost sheep, he is talking about me.
I have certainly not been a notorious sinner. I have kept my life within the boundaries of socially acceptable moral conduct. But within my soul I have endured many bleak days and dark nights when I felt far from God. I found myself wandering at times in a spiritual wasteland. The landscape held few signs of where I had come from or where I was going. There I encountered many others who were lost like me. They too wandered in this place that seemed uncertain, uncaring, unforgiving. Some thought they knew the way, and tried to point it out to us, but soon we found that they were lost too. We longed to find our way out of this barren desert of earthly existence and into the lush green hills and valleys of home.
The lesson of the parable is that all this time while I wandered about trying to find my way, Jesus has been searching for me. So great is his love for me that he left his place in heaven and came into the wasteland looking for me. And at last he has found me. I see now that he is my Shepherd. And I will follow him, because I know that he will lead me safely home.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In green pastures he gives me rest.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths,
For his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the dark valley,
I fear no evil,
For you are with me.
Your rod and staff give me courage.
You prepare a table before me
In the sight of my foes.
You anoint my head with oil,
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and kindness
Will follow me
All the days of my life.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
For years to come.
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