These days,
it almost like we can’t turn on the news or visit the web without hearing about
“The 1%.” In the context of economic
justice, the 1% are seen as those who hoard resources at the expense of the
99%. They’re perceived as privileged,
above the law, disdainful of those they feel are beneath them. There are
protests and rallies and even disruptions of our economic lives to bring
attention to this imbalance by various politicos, especially during election
years.
But this isn’t
the 1% that Jesus talked about in Luke (15:1-10). Although social and economic justice were
frequent themes in His teachings, this time Jesus turned conventional wisdom on
its head.
Even if we
don’t want to admit it, it’s easy to think that people with greater resources
and easier lives are more favored by God. This was certainly true in the time of Jesus. Those people that held high social status and
were well off, were seen as blessed by the Lord. The 1% of that time were God’s favorites, or
so it seemed. Jesus shows us a different
view of God’s kingdom. According to
Jesus, the 1%, the elite, the favored, the ones most deserving of the Father’s
attention, were those who had strayed. And
in Jesus’ example, God (the shepherd), doesn’t wait for the lost lamb to
return, but leaves the 99 “good” lambs to search for the 1%. “What man among you
having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine
in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?”
(Luke 15:4)
We all stray
from time to time. At least I know I
certainly do. Saint Paul himself said he
was the greatest sinner (1Timothy 1:15). But God considers all sinners to be the 1%,
those who have a special place in His kingdom. “The tax collectors and
sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes
began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2) In His eyes we’re all
deserving of His full and undivided attention, at all times! Why is it so hard for us to accept this?
It’s quite
easy to be harsh and critical toward those who “deserve it.” When we see someone clearly going astray, we
can almost feel justified in pointing the finger and putting them down as if we
were better than they or as if they were dirt.
What an easy thing to do and what a mistake!
If we want
to be like Jesus, we must have a much different attitude toward them. We must act differently toward them than how
we may feel like acting. Sin is ugly and
dirty. It’s easy to be critical toward
one who is caught in a cycle of sin. Yet
if we do so, we’re no different than the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’
time. And we’ll most likely receive the same harsh
treatment right back from Jesus for our lack of mercy.
It’s
interesting that one of the only sins that Jesus consistently rebukes is that
of being judgmental and critical. It’s
almost as if this sin shuts the door on God’s mercy in our lives.
We must recommit
ourselves to mercy and a complete lack of judgment of others. Judgment is Christ’s to give, not ours. We’re called to mercy and compassion. If we can offer just that, we’ll be much more
like our merciful Lord.
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