by Rev. Aidan Moon

Earthy Images of Heavenly Love

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“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent..”

– Luke 15:3-7, English Standard Version

The rider keeps his eyes peeled for any sign of brown or black in the midst of the green and white of the aspen grove. His patient horse steps carefully through the rugged mountainside, stepping around the tightly packed trees, navigating fallen logs and limbs. At last, there is a glimpse – brown cowhide in the trees. The cattle the rider was searching for. Carefully, methodically, he begins to turn them towards home, back to the corral and to safer pastures.

Jesus is fond of earthy images in his preaching and teaching. He is fond of using the stuff of earth, of our lives, of the day-to-day. Especially Jesus uses the world of agriculture – of growing things, animals, livestock, to picture the relationship of our Creator God’s relationship with us. The Creator of earth uses the things of earth to describe His relationship to us.

Having grown up on cattle ranches, spending much of my time in rugged country on the back of a horse, these images have always resonated with me. Especially as I think of God’s patient seeking – how Jesus came to earth to seek and to save, entering a rugged wilderness to find those who belong to him – to bring them all home to himself. By connecting these images to His character and identity, Jesus gave me a way to see all that I learned in ranch life as a parable of his loving-kindness. As I cared for cattle, sheep, chickens, and horses, I learned something of the character of a God who seeks, who rescues, who cares, who leads me to good pasture. Who patiently seeks me when I’ve grazed too far from home.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado