If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

- Matthew 18:10-20

Yesterday, we read that after Jesus had warned for the second time that He will be made to suffer and be killed, and raised on the third day,  the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!  If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you.  It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.  It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.“   In yesterday’s reading, Jesus  has already discussed the “little ones” who are those who are humble.  Regarding angels, my study bible notes that “St. John Chrysostom teaches that not only the saints, but all people have guardian angels.  However, the angels of humble people have greater boldness and greater honor before the face of God because of the humility of the person they guard.  It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, that requires the angels’ service.”  Regarding those who are humble, today’s Old Testament reading tells us that “the man Moses was very meek, more than all the people who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).   A later verse tells us that, in contrast to other prophets, God spoke with Moses not in visions but  “face to face.”

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.“  My study bible explains that “unlike earthly shepherds, Christ sees such value in one sheep that He will leave the others at risk to save it.  The ninety-nine sheep represent the righteous who remain faithful to God (Luke 15:7).  According to certain Fathers, this is also an image of the Incarnation in which the ninety-nine represent the angels in heaven; Christ descended from heaven to pursue the one sheep – man – who had fallen into corruption on earth.”

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  A note tells us:  “Church discipline is based on mutual correction in three expanding stages.  Sin and correction are to remain private unless the offender refuses to repent.  All correction must be done with great care and humility, with the highest concern being the salvation of the offender (see 1 Corinthians 5:5; Galatians 6:1).  Nevertheless, correction must take place so that the sin does not spread to others as well.”

It’s interesting to note the place of human beings in today’s reading.  My study bible points out that each one of us has a guardian angel.  But it also notes that according to St. John Chrysostom, angels of the humble have greater boldness and honor before God just because of the humility of the person they guard.  In keeping with what Christ teaches here about saving what was lost, St. Chrysostom teaches that it’s the weakness of human beings that requires the angels’ service; therefore their missions reflect their Master’s.  Christ has taught already that it is those who are ill who have need of the physician.   Moreover, not only are we each recipients of the ministry of angels, but in the image of the ninety-nine sheep, certain Fathers of the church see the Incarnation as Christ (the Shepherd) who descends to pursue the one sheep (humankind) that had fallen into corruption and was in danger of perdition (the state of being totally lost).  In this context, the Redeemer comes for the one, and we are that one.  Not only do the angels minister to each one of us, particularly in the case of weakness, but somehow we are worthy of this special place of attention, the Incarnation.  It is in the spirit of this love that we view the instructions given us here for church discipline by Jesus.  This is a serious mission; those who must be saved must be cared for with discipline.  Above all, it is this love and this mission which must always be followed and in operation – and discipline serves that purpose.  No danger should fall to those who are the “little ones” in the care of the disciples.  That would include the need for discipline in the church, rather than a spirit of tolerance for abuse of those who need and seek help.