Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

Pretty bold, this Jesus who welcomes sinners
by Audrey Novak Riley

9.29.2019
|
Devotions

In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a few parables to a group of grumbling scribes and Pharisees. The third parable in the series (Luke 15:11-32) usually overshadows the first one (Luke 15:3-7). Let’s start with the first one—the parable of the lost sheep.

The parable is short. The grumblers, who are grumbling about Jesus having the nerve to welcome sinners and even (shudder) eat with them, are asked to put themselves in the place of a shepherd who has a flock of 100 sheep—but one is missing. Who among you, says Jesus, wouldn’t leave the 99 where they are and go searching for the lost one? And once you’ve found the lost one, wouldn’t you carry it home and call all your friends and neighbors to help you celebrate? That’s what happens in heaven, Jesus tells them, when one sinner repents, when one lost sheep is brought home.

This little parable kind of reminds me of Jesus’ discourse after the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-48), where he says, over and over, “You have heard that it was said . . .” and then intensifies the scriptural command with “But I say to you. . . .” For example: You’ve heard that we should love our neighbor and hate our enemy? Well, I say that we should love our enemy too. Well, I say that we should go find that one stray sheep. I say we should search for that one lost coin. I say we should run and embrace that wayward son before he can even apologize for worrying us so.

God loves sinners

Pretty bold, this Jesus fellow who welcomes sinners! And that brings us back to those grumbling scribes and Pharisees. They would have gotten Jesus’ point: Those lost sheep, lost coins, and lost sons are always beloved, even before we find them and welcome them home. God loves sinners even before we repent. And that’s why Jesus welcomes sinners because that’s what his Father in heaven does.

But if we all did that, wouldn’t that lead to all kinds of shocking situations—like loving sinners as our neighbors, or Samaritans, or even Roman soldiers, like the centurion whose servant Jesus heals (Matthew 8:5-13)? You can’t possibly mean that, can you, Jesus? Oh, yes. Jesus means it. And he keeps on welcoming and forgiving and loving sinners.

Even sinners like us. Even sinners like me. Thanks be to God.

Audrey Novak Riley is director for stewardship for Women of the ELCA. | Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash

Give online or mail your check to:
Women of the ELCA
Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1809
Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
Thank you!

Share

Categories

  • Post (1,228)
  • News (295)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
  • Devotions (70)
  • Uncategorized (2)
Women of the ELCA
23 Jun
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

We’re taking you back to the best of VBS, but designed for you as an adult. Read all about it in this piece, then sign-up for Bold Connections, our e-newsletter, where you'll get access to the VBS content on July 1. womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/… #ThursdayTip! #WeAreWELCA #ActBoldly

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2022 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2022 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.