Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Lectionary: 414

What is your opinion?

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,

will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills

and go in search of the stray?

In Saint Matthew's account of the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus begins with a question, "What is your opinion?" And then he asks, "Will the shepherd not leave the ninety-nine...?"

I wonder if the disciples didn't look at him, and then at each other, and then back at him; and perhaps one of them cautiously said, "No?"

It may be sad and unfortunate that one is lost but the dutiful shepherd cannot risk the loss of ninety-nine as he searches for that one. The shepherd's boss might raise hell if he heard about the shepherd abandoning his flock on a wild goose chase.

Jesus uses the metaphor of sheep and shepherding, of business. And the businessman or woman often has to make hard choices involving triage and risk assessment. It's all well and good to speak of ideals but in the real world there are wolves, lions and thieves; and they are watching for any opportunity when the shepherd's back is turned.

If one of the disciples were so bold as to disagree with Jesus' rhetorical parable, the Master might have pointed out that he's not talking about sheep. He's talking about the care of the Church, "In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

And so the disciples might ask and discuss among themselves how well the metaphor applies. Sheep are notoriously stupid. And congregations of Christians are not? Can ninety-nine be trusted to manage for themselves while the shepherd is away? Can they permit their pastor to seek the lost while their needs are neglected?

Or perhaps his care for the one actually addresses the real needs, as opposed to the felt needs they think they have. Catholic and Protestant pastors are often expected where their presence is not really necessary; their leadership is sought when the faithful are perfectly capable of thinking and acting for themselves. The pastor who oversteps his authority, micromanaging his congregation, does no one any favors.

The congregation should learn to respect one another and back one another while the pastor is away. They should support the operation which might result in a strayed member's return. They can spend their time preparing a welcome place at the table.

Pope Francis has reminded us that every Christian is a missionary. Some are sent to foreign lands; most are sent to their native lands to live and preach the gospel. So long as Christian congregations regard themselves only as sheep, waiting on the pastor's directives and deferring continually to him -- usually to "him!" -- they fail their obligation. Sheep are animals, slightly more intelligent than trees and fungus. Comparisons with human beings are interesting and perhaps revelatory, but seriously limited. Christians are women and men with intelligence, insight and a capacity for discerning God's will.

In "the real world" of which Jesus speaks, unlike the business world which is subject to the mechanical cycles of ebb and flow, the pastor pays attention to the Spirit of God. That Spirit often directs us in unexpected, unpromising ventures. In God's world it is difficult to assess plans or projects, failure or success. Doing the right thing might not succeed but those who risk it will have the assurance of the Holy Spirit; they suffer no regret. They will say, "It is better to have love and lost than never to have loved at all."