16 Pentecost, Year C

Proper 19
Exodus 34: 1, 7 – 14
Psalm 51: 1 – 11
I Timothy 1: 12 – 17
Luke 15: 1 – 10

A homily by: Fr. Gene Tucker
Given at: Trinity Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois; Sunday, September 12, 2010

“THE ECONOMY” (Homily text: Luke 15: 1 – 20)

Let’s talk about the economy this morning, shall we?

As I say this, I can just imagine the thoughts that are now running through your head. Maybe they’re something like this:

1. “OK. The economy’s not very good right now. It’s about all we hear about on the news these days.”

2. “Yeah, my personal economy isn’t too good, not at all. I could use some extra money.”

3. “Oh no, here goes our annual stewardship sermon! Father’s gonna give us a pep talk about giving to the church.”

No, by using the word “economy”, I wouldn’t be talking about the economy, meaning money, not at all.

What I am talking about is God’s economy, God’s plan for you and for me, personally, each one of us.

Perhaps I’d better explain my peculiar use of the word economy.

You see, the English word economy comes from the Greek word oikonomia, where it means “management of a household, a task, or a work.” In theological terms, it is used to describe “God’s plan”.

So, what we are talking about this morning is about God’s plan of salvation, God’s plan to seek and to save everyone of us who respond to God’s seeking with faith.

(A sidebar is in order here: In recent weeks, we’ve heard a series of very tough, very challenging gospel texts, in which Jesus clarifies the high demands of being His disciple. This morning, though, we get a welcome break from such demanding texts. Instead of laying before us the high costs and demands of discipleship, this morning we are shown a glimpse of God’s reaching out to us with love.)

Now, back to the issue of economy.

In today’s text, we hear the reaction of the Pharisees and the scribes, as they mutter to themselves, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Put into economic terms, the Pharisees and the scribes are saying that these tax collectors and sinners are “worthless currency”. They are like counterfeit bills, in essence. They are as suspect as three dollar bills, and just as useless.

In response, Jesus doesn’t answer the comments of these Pharisees and scribes directly. Instead – and as is typical of His teaching – He responds by giving two parables, which are known today as the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.

Both parables turn our normal, human expectations on their heads, for both point out the extraordinary steps that God will take to seek out just one person, one individual.

In normal, economic terms, these sorts of actions don’t make any sense at all.

Normally, we attempt to protect as many of our assets as possible. We seek to minimize our potential losses and to maximize our gains.

Not so with God.

In God’s economy, God’s plan, every single person is of inestimable worth.

God will take unbelievable steps to go after us, seeking us out.

That’s the point of Jesus’ two teachings.

You see, salvation – that is, God’s ability to save us from our sins, and to guarantee our presence with Him in this life, and in the life of the world to come – is both a very personal and a very corporate matter.

Today, we hear a text which assures us that God cares deeply for each one of us, each one of us. No matter how insignificant we may seem to be to society, no matter how worthless we might feel we are, God loves each of us, God cares deeply for each of us, and God seeks to establish with each of us a personal and ongoing relationship.

This last point is well worth saying again: God seeks to establish with each of us a personal and ongoing relationship.

The relationship of which I speak is deeply personal, a matter of a one-on-one, intimate relationship with God.

If we think about that relationship for just a moment, it can easily become an awesome, God-filled moment to realize that each individual, human person is of infinite worth in God’s economy, and that the God who created all that is, the God who sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be the offering for our sins, is also a God who wants to be in a close, ongoing relationship with you and me, personally and individually.

The cosmic nature of this relationship is echoed in Jesus’ comments, heard today: “Just so,” He says, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

But the corporate nature of our relationship with God is also seen in the first parable we hear this morning: Notice that the body of the sheep is mentioned. The one who’s strayed from the flock is still a member of that flock, just one of the flock of ninety nine.

Just so, we are all members of God’s flock, the body of Christ, the Church. Each one of us, collectively and together, make up that great company of the saints who are those who have been redeemed by Christ, and who have been presented to God the Father as a sweet offering.

So, what’s your worth?

In your own estimation, how much are you worth? (Be honest with yourself!)

How much are you worth, in God’s economy?

Today’s gospel text says you’re worth a whole lot, worth seeking out and going after, a prize that cannot be evaluated for all of its great worth.

That ought to be great, good news, to know that, in God’s eyes, we are worth a whole lot. We are worth the effort to be found by God.

Thanks be to the God who seeks us out, each one of us!

AMEN.