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The Love Of God Will Cure Humanity

The love of God is indescribable. It is beyond anything that we can comprehend. His love for mankind is so intense, that each and every soul is precious to him and the loss of just one soul upsets him greatly. In a world that has embraced a much more utilitarian view of humanity, where human beings have become disposable, God’s love stands in stark contrast. Yet the love of God will cure humanity, it is what we all seek out. As Saint Augustine reminds us, “For Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” As we continue our Advent journey let us take a moment to contemplate the love of God and give him praise and thanks for that gift.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18 : 12-14

Scriptural Analysis

To understand this story in greater detail it is helpful to understand what being a shepherd in Judea was like. The pasture land is on the hill country which runs down the middle of the land. It is a narrow ridge-like plateau that is only a few miles across. There are no restraining walls. The pasture land at best is sparse and therefore it was easy for a sheep to wander off. If they stray from the plateau it was easy for them to become stuck on the cliffs. Shepherds were excellent at following the tracks of lost sheep for miles: braving the cliffs to bring them back. Herds were usually communal flocks being watched by two or three shepherds. Thus, a shepherd could go off the rescue the lost sheep and not worry about the sheep that were safe.

Jesus is instructing his disciples with regard to the care that should be shown to fellow Christians who have gone astray. The story of the lost sheep draws upon a common Old Testament metaphor. Throughout much of the Old Testament, Israel is pictured as a flock of sheep with God as the shepherd, “For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psalm 95:7 for example)

This particular story draws upon Ezekiel’s prophecies in which he foretold that God himself would become the shepherd of Israel and seek out those who were lost, “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.” (Ezekiel 34:11) For a shepherd, each sheep is a valuable financial asset. So much so that he would temporarily leave the sheep who are safe and seek out the one that is lost. Similarly, each soul is so precious to God that he would go to extraordinary lengths to reduce him.

Daily Application

This short passage about a lost sheep reveals to us so much about who God is. It illustrates his deep and abiding love for humanity: for each and every soul. Specifically, this passage reveals to us five characteristics of God’s love.

First, God’s love is individual. The ninety-nine sheep that were safe and accounted for was not enough for this shepherd. One of his sheep was lost and he needed to find him. God’s love for humanity works just the same. Every single human soul is precious in the eyes of God. We are individuals fully known and loved by our creator. If one of us is lost it upsets him. He wants to be with each and every one of us.

Second, God’s love is patient. Sheep are notoriously foolish creatures wandering off and getting lost. It is their own fault for the trouble that they find themselves in yet the shepherd risks his life to find and rescue the sheep. God is also like that. He loves the foolish man who has no one to blame for his troubles except himself. He does not condemn us for our sins but rather rescues us from them

Next, God’s love is a seeking love. The shepherd did not wait for the sheep to come back but went out and found it. God also seeks out his lost sheep, his lost souls The Old Testament is filled with prophet after prophet, sent to draw the people back to God. When that was not enough, God sent Jesus to seek out and bring his people back to him: a task Jesus still does to this very day.

Fourth, God’s love is a rejoicing love. The shepherd rejoiced when the lost sheep was found. God also rejoices when the lost soul returns to him.

Finally, God’s love is a protecting love. The shepherd knew the sheep would perish without him. God knows that mankind will perish without him. Therefore he provides for us and works to keep our souls safe. His love brings the lost man back and even makes him strong for the service of his fellow man.

God’s love is intense. If we understood the fullness of it, it would be so overpowering, so strong, that it would overwhelm us. Yet it is this intense love that caused him to send Jesus into this world, to send his only begotten son to die on the cross for us. He had to right the wrong caused by the disobedience of Adam because he could not fathom not having us with him. As we continue this Advent journey, getting ever closer to Christmas, stop and consider just how much God loves you, and then let his love radiate through you and reach those who are still lost.

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