Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]

 

ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [A]


In sending the apostles, Jesus specifies that they need to concentrate upon “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6). The fact that they are “lost” would seem to indicate that they were previously “found” or “settled.”  Evidently, the careful work outlined in Ex. 19:3-6 is going to be undone. God, first of all, does his part by ushering them into the Promised Land; even carrying them at various stages of the journey. There are times when they feel as if they have been lifted up, held aloft by a newly grown set of wings (19:4). With the Lord’s help, they will take up residence within the land that “flows with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8). They will be where it is that they are supposed to be. 


And yet, for whatever reason, they will end up someplace else. It’s similar to what happens with Dorothy and her companions. The Yellow Brick Road is what will take them to their ultimate destination, The Emerald City. Therefore, the objective is rather obvious: STICK TO THE ROAD. They do so, at least for a period of time. But, all of a sudden, they are being attracted to this field, a field that’s filled with exotic poppies. It’s not where they are supposed to be. Nevertheless, here they are. And it doesn’t look like they have any intention of leaving. 


Thankfully, the Good Witch Glenda intervenes. Soon, they will return to where it is that they are supposed to be. Soon they will once again be traveling along the Yellow Brick Road, advancing ever closer to the Emerald City. The intervention is what makes the difference. Glenda is someone who can be counted upon. This of course begs the question of whether or not we can count upon the Lord? Does he intervene when we become like “lost sheep?”  If you are not where it is that you are supposed to be, will the Lord do anything about it? 


St. Paul would answer in the affirmative. Yes, you can count on the Lord. He will intervene, so that you can return to where it is that you are supposed to be. Why does he intervene? Paul attributes it to the Lord’s special brand of love. God intervenes because he loves us. How do we know that we are loved? Look no further than the cross. It’s not just that Jesus dies for us; he dies for us while we are transgressing, while we are still a long way from any spirit of repentance (Rom. 5:8). We aren’t in the “good place” yet. We are still floundering among the poppies. 


Dorothy had Glenda. We have the God of the Bible. God lifts up the Israelites when they are languishing in the desert. He lifts up those who are in need of redemption by offering his Son on the cross. And he is in the habit of lifting us up when we appear to be dead-set on forfeiting this gift of redemption—when we go off, in pursuit of the poppies. He will recognize that we are not where it is that we are supposed to be. And he will make the choice to intervene. Why? Again, it’s all about the mystery of God’s extravagant love. If the “lost sheep” shows no intention of returning to the fold, the Good Shepherd will be sure to take the initiative. 

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