Uncommon
- Gary Fritsch
- Nov 5, 2025
- 1 min read
When Jesus starts to provide examples in today's Gospel we might become a little uncomfortable. He makes it seem normal that we might risk the 99 to recapture the 1. That alone might make us squirm. In His own time, pursuing the one might not have been a practice that shepherds might have willingly engaged in. It is precisely this uncommon pursuit, this irregular loving that Jesus calls us to.
Living and sharing a life of faith is not a normal risk/reward equation or conversation. Sticking our neck out, embracing the awkward person, actually risking something is what we are called to do.
Leaving the 99 was a risk, and although it was spoken of parable setting, Jesus would live His life, and suffer His death on this principle: the individual matters. Every single person matters. Every embryo conceived and imbued with a soul matters. It is this extreme caring for the uncared for that separates the Christian from the well meaning atheistic moralist.
We have to occasionally entertain the question: who is the 'one' in my life? Who is praying to God to have ME inject myself into someone else's life? This is an important question for us to entertain each day. If we believe that God will work miracles in the lives of loved ones, why would we also not entertain that He would love for us to connect with people who have been prayed for. Can we be open to being the answer to the 1 of 100 prayer.
Lord, help me to identify and chase down the 1 like you would.
Comments