Year C

Luke 15:1-10

The Very Rev. Denise Vaughn

God’s Mercy Overcomes Darkness

There was once a very popular ad on TV for orange juice that featured singer and entertainer Anita Bryant who famously used the slogan, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” I remember that ad very well and actually met Anita Bryant who made a stop into the Rexall Drug store for lunch in Port Charlotte where I worked during high school. Our rather famous lunch counter was known for its delicious home cooked meals and pies. On Sunday’s, we would open up at noon and people would be lined up outside the front door waiting to come in to eat. Famous people would fly into Rotunda West for a visit to Boca Grande and some made their way to our lunch counter.

Comedian Steve Martin is known for a joke about this popular orange juice ad. He once quipped: “A day without sunshine is like, you know, NIGHT.” Well, the word of God today would suggest that “a day without God is like, you know, NIGHT.” Yet, into that darkness came a light. At creation, God’s first act was to roll back the darkness and bring light to the world. All the texts today can be seen as good news that despite the darkness in our world, despite sinfulness and resistance to repent, God never gives up on God’s people. God’s mercy overcomes human darkness. Yet, for those who reject God’s light, a day without God is darkness. The psalmist puts it this way: Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” The fool is one who resolutely rejects God, one who is convinced God does not matter in life.

The prophet Jeremiah today address the fools of his day as he offers a rather bleak picture of a world plunged back into pre-creation darkness and chaos because the people have chosen to live in darkness rather than in the light of God. They have ceased to call upon God, acting as if God does not even exist. A high wind signals God’s judgment on a people whose evil has produced a land that is desolate, barren, and lifeless. Although Jeremiah seems to suggest that God has determined Israel is to be dismantled forever, God says, “I will not destroy it completely.” Destruction will not be total. Despite sin and darkness, God does not abandon God’s people, there is hope that God is not done yet, because God’s mercy overcomes the deepest darkness.

This truth that despite the darkness of sin, God remains faithful, God remains merciful, is borne out today in both the Gospel of Luke and in Paul’s letter to Timothy.  A shepherd wandering in the wind and rain for one lost sheep and a women turning the house upside down for one small coin are images of God’s faithful  persistence in seeking sinners. This chapter of Luke is sometimes called the “Lost and Found” section of the Bible because it contains the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son, the prodigal son. Stories that are very important for understanding God’s nature, particularly God’s nature to forgive and restore God’s people. These stories repeat throughout in terms of things lost and things found. God finds us. This what God’s forgiveness is like.

For a first century Pharisee, the hard work of observing the law was the only way to forgiveness or redemption. Sinners were those who broke the law in some way; this could be a violation of a commandment or, an inappropriate occupation that included: tax-collecting and being a shepherd. Suddenly, they see Jesus, this popular rabbi, sitting down at table and eating with those who would be considered sinners. Jesus did not deny that people are sinners, but neither was he content with letting them wander in the dark, including the Pharisee’s.  He went out to bring them home, and so he tells them these rather exaggerated stories. The humor in them is apparent right from the start.

He picks a shepherd-a dishonorable occupation-and a woman-an inferior person-as his heroes. One leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep; the other sweeps the house in a quest for the lost coin.  Haven’t we all had the experience of losing something that we know we may never recover? Depending on the situation, we can feel disappointed, heartbroken, hopeless, or simply discouraged. Isn’t it wonderful, maybe a relief, to know that we will never fall into the ‘Lost Forever’ category? It is  reassuring to know that God will never give up on us. The point is that sinners are welcome in God’s kingdom. We are all welcome because Jesus’ mission was to reach those who are lost and marginalized.

In each of these stories, we get a picture of God counting up all God’s people, anxious that not one be lost, and madly happy when someone turns back to God. Paul expresses his gratitude today for the mercy of God that saved him, even one sinner. At the heart of his testimony is the transformation that took place in his life as he went from being a persecutor of the church to becoming a faithful servant. God judged Paul to be faithful in spite of the fact that he was and continued to be the foremost of sinners. Our text today is the first of several upcoming readings from the two letters to Timothy. The scriptures list 26 references to Timothy in the New Testament. He is the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father, and was Paul’s trusted companion on his missionary journeys.

These letters from Paul to Timothy, 1 & 2 Timothy, are letters offering guidance on church leadership, management, and spiritual qualities needed for church leaders. Paul sent Timothy to lead the church in Ephesus, a vital mission to counter false teachings and restore order. Today, Paul charges his friend with a life of discipleship, by sharing his personal relationship with the mystery of God in Christ Jesus. He emphasizes how far he fell, in order to illustrate how low a gracious God would stoop to pick him up. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I’m the biggest sinner of all,” proclaiming God’s mercy and love in Christ. God’s mercy endures forever.

Yet, God seeking us out, God’s invitation to us in Christ, expects a response.  As with Israel, the covenant expects mutual fidelity, not a one-sided fidelity. But God leaves us free to accept the invitation. When those in darkness are willing to be found and to be led out of chaos into the light, when they are willing to enter again into covenantal love, mercy overcomes the deepest darkness. When this happens, when we once lost are found, we experience how amazing God’s love and mercy is. The Hebrew term Hesed is often translated as “mercy,” “loving kindness,” or covenantal love.” A characteristic of covenantal love, is that it is mutual. As Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, the excluded are staring to get it: in the Kingdom, everyone is included. God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness always extends to those who need to be found, to be saved.