Growing up, I somehow caught the message that parables of Jesus were meant to have one meaning, one moral teaching, one point. However, the longer I’ve explored Scripture, and the way that rabbis taught during the time of Jesus, I’ve re-examined this assumption. Though my black-and-white mind wants to approach parables in such a way, the truth is that parables are meant to challenge us and leave us with multiple interpretations. Further, parables are meant to allow each of us to enter into Scripture where we’re at.
This past Sunday, we heard the parable of the sheep in which 99 remain, but 1 goes astray. During worship, we explored how each of us are less like shepherds (ironic, given how often I refer to you all as “Shepherds”) and are more like sheep. But even as a sheep, it likely varies from time to time if we see ourselves as a part of the 99 that remain in the fold with the shepherd, or if we see ourselves as the 1 lone sheep that went astray. If we’re honest, we’ve been both…and perhaps are both at the same time. But where we find ourselves in the parable, at this moment, may lead us to take something different away from this story.
So this week, I encourage you to re-engage with the parable one more time. If you find yourself resonating with the 1 sheep who is lost, confess your lost-ness to God and trust that God will seek you wherever you are. Or, if you find yourself resonating with the clump of 99 sheep, consider how you may be called to offer yourself to those around you who may feel lost…or to rejoice with those who are joining the fold of God’s keeping.
Consider diving in…one more time. And consider examining where you see yourself – in relationship with God, with yourself, and with others. And from that time of devotion and prayer, trust that wherever you find yourself, together, we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand (Psalm 95:6-7).