“THIS FELLOW WELCOMES SINNERS”

Lectionary passage: Luke 15:1-10 (NRSV) -Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is  lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

“This fellow welcomes sinners,” said the scribes and Pharisees.
        “They’re not the proper company to keep.”
So Jesus told this parable not guaranteed to please:
        “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep
and losing one of them would not leave all the rest behind
        and go to find the one that’s gone astray?
And how you do rejoice, when that lost sheep at last you find!
        You tell your friends, ‘I found my sheep today!’
Just so in heaven there will be much joy, I say to you ---
        more joy about one sinner who repents
than over nine and ninety righteous men and women, who
        need no repentance.” What he said makes sense,
but to his hearers was the illustration meaningful?
        Apparently it wasn’t clear, and so
to emphasize the point he told another parable
        to teach them what they didn’t want to know.
“What woman with ten silver coins, if she should lose just one,
         would not keep searching till the coin is found?
And when it’s found, she tells her neighbors that her search is done:
        ‘Rejoice with me, for my lost coin is found!’
Just so,” he said, “There’s joy among the angels of the Lord
        because of every sinner who repents.”
The fact that sinners came to him the Pharisees deplored,
        but Jesus hoped to win their penitence.