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' second warning that He will suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the 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 tow 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.  for the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."  Jesus continues speaking of the little ones, the ones who are "least" in the Church, the humble and dependent.  Regarding their angels, St John Chrysostom teaches that not only the saints, but all people have guardian angels.  But the angels of the humble have greater boldness and greater honor before the face of God, because of the humility of the person they guard.  My study bible tells us that it is not the nature of God but rather the weakness of human beings that requires the angels' service.

"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 says that unlike earthly shepherds, Christ sees such value in one sheep that He will leave the others at risk to save it.  (See also Zechariah 11:15-17, referring to false leadership, in which it is a worthless shepherd who leaves the flock and does not seek the strays.)  The ninety-nine sheep represent the righteous who remain faithful to God (Luke 15:7).   According to certain patristic interpretations, 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 -- humankind -- 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."  The parable about "lost sheep"  brings up the problem of those who sin in the Church.  Jesus gives a formula for discipline within the Church, based on mutual correction, and expanding in three stages.  Sin and correction are to remain private unless the offender refuses to repent, my study bible notes.  All correction must be done with great care and with humility.  The highest concern is, in fact, the salvation of the offender -- thus, with the one who may be "lost" or astray (see 1 Corinthians 5:5, Galatians 6:1).  However, correction must take place so that the sin does not spread to others as well.

"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."   The authority to both bind and loose sins is given to the apostles and transmitted to the bishops and presbyters they ordained, according to my study bible.  This authority is given for the sake of the salvation of the sinner.   St. John Chrysostom comments that, "seeing that he is not only cast out of the Church, but that the bond of his sin will remain in Heaven, he may turn and become gentle."

The parable of the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one straying sheep may have struck ancient ears as rather odd.  After all, a shepherd of the time wouldn't necessarily leave the majority of his flock to seek out one, and risk losing them all.  But this isn't a story about sheep; it's a story about the love of Christ and the type of leadership He wants from His disciples.  They should go to the "ends of the earth" to find the strays and the lost who belong to the Master, and bring them together in one flock.  And this is, of course, what the Apostles will do after Pentecost.  We should remember that today's reading is given in the context of preparing the disciples for their leadership in the Church that is to come.  They've just received the second warning from Christ about what is to come:  that He will die on the Cross, and after three days He will be risen.  This news has left them dejected, but also no doubt curious to know their place in what they believe is the Kingdom to come.  His first teaching (in yesterday's reading, above) was about the use of power in His Church.  They are most importantly to care for the "little ones," that is, those who are like little children in the Church, the humble who will be in their care.  Into that context comes the story of the shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to go after the one that's lost.  No effort should be spared in caring for "the least of these."  Christ's parable gives us a guarantee of the importance of personal attention.  It teaches us that each one is sacred and unique and special to the Father.  Perhaps Jesus makes His most important statement about the whole essence of His Incarnational mission when He says, "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."  It's an indication of how beloved each person is by God, our Creator.  It's not a call to selfishness or self-centeredness on our part.  It's rather a statement about the importance of returning the sheep to where they belong, to the place that is truly home, where they may dwell in that love.  It's about recalling the sheep to their true natures, and finding the place where identity becomes complete.  That is really the mission of the Church, to seek and find those who've been lost to this truth, this essence about ourselves as persons.  So strong is the desire to find the "lost sheep" that Jesus strongly warns the disciples that all care and all effort must be made to avoid their alienation, in the ways that they are to provide leadership and in seeking out those who've been lost.  It remains the essence of what it is to belong to Christ, and to find our true image and identity in Him.  Even in teaching about discipline within the Church, all care is taken to protect privacy and proper means of correction for each one.   At the Last Supper, Jesus will give one commandment that is both new and final:  "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34, 15:12).  In these teachings about the lost sheep, Jesus really teaches us about the love of God, a love so great as to seek redemption for each one.  Let us remember His command and seek to follow His example.