The lost sheep

‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

- Matthew 18:10-20

In today's reading, Jesus continues his talk to the disciples that began with the question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Just after Jesus has warned his disciples that he will be betrayed, of his death and resurrection, he begins the disciples' preparation for the future church. In yesterday's reading, Jesus began by teaching about what constitutes greatness in his kingdom, and started with a stern warning about scandals in the church and abuse of power. Most powerfully, he pointed out the necessity of the care for the "little ones," the importance of humility, and of becoming like a child in order to be great in that kingdom. Here he continues in that same vein.

"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven." My study bible notes: "No one should despise humble Christians, because their guardian angels occupy foremost positions before God. The angels always see the face of God, not in His divine essence, but in His divine glory, His energy, according to the measure of their capacity. Only the Son and Holy Spirit can behold Him perfectly. It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, which requires the angels' service. They are sent for the sake of those who will inherit salvation." It is important, I think, that we understand that Jesus is not merely speaking of little children, but this has been historically interpreted to mean the "little ones" of the church: the people who make up the flock that the apostles and disciples will shepherd. We are to understand that for all the least and most humble among us, "in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven."

"If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost." This is a metaphor that is striking not because it bears resemblance to the conduct of a first century Palestinian shepherd, but because it is a vivid illustration of God's love for even a single lost or stray person. No shepherd would leave the flock unguarded to search for one sheep, but this Shepherd has this priority. The least among us merits the full measure of love and the greatest rejoicing when they are found and returned home.

Then, Jesus issues a classic model for church discipline. There is mutual correction, in three expanding stages of church involvement. My study bible notes: "Sin and repentance are private unless the offender refuses to repent; then the issue may have to be made public and corporate, coming before the whole Church. All discipline must be done with great care and humility, for it is easy to be hypocritical in the way we judge." So, taking all of these teachings as a whole, we find the greatest emphasis placed on the love and care of the "least of these" - the "little ones" of the church. People come to spiritual life, to the life of the church - especially the lowly and humble - to find direction and care and guidance. Any abuse of this trust is the strongest and most severe violation of Christ's teaching and emphasis on what and whom he values as most precious. Yesterday we read that Jesus taught that "whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." This is the clearest possible statement of his emphasis on "the least of these" and how to care for this flock.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Once again, as in a recent reading, we are taught about the power of the bond in faith. Peter's confession of faith, in that previous reading, was pronounced to be the rock upon which the Church was to be built. Here, Jesus continues expanding on that bond of confession. What is bound and loosed in the bond of faith is more profound than human law can touch. The rock of the Church forms something that reaches to the soul - to our profound relationship with Christ and all that He is. My study bible notes that the term church appears only in Matthew among the gospels. It refers to the community of faith, "gathered by Him and united with Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit." Another note in the study bible continues..."God is with us. He has a special presence in heaven and in the church as well, through His grace and the sacraments." Not even the angels, it points out, have this power of bond. As human beings in the body of faith we are to be mutually correcting in the spirit and love of God.

I have been in churches where the worst sort of squabbling and fighting was the norm. Without the capacity for the discipline of mutual correction, things fall apart and deteriorate. Most important is Christ's teaching on the emphasis of love for the little ones, and the reminder that "in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven." We are to prize humility above all, to be like the example of the child in yesterday's reading. Without humility, none of the other Christian virtues can be realized. Mercy and love, the greatest components that characterize the teachings of the gospels, are character traits found and cultivated through humility. Who else but the humble have the strength of character to seek after the little ones that have strayed or are lost? Where else but among the humble could we find those who would protect the vulnerable from abuse of power?