Last week at T.N.T. we reflected on how the Lord, like a good shepherd, provides, protects, and preserves our lives. His continued goodness to us in the midst of numerous dangers, difficulties, and darkness gives us confidence to say with the Psalmist: "Surely, certainly, with all confidence, I am assured that goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life!"
Because Jesus is our Good Shepherd, we can be assured of His provision, protection, and preserving love. Indeed, His commitment to us is so great He is willing to leave the 99 in order to pursue the 1 wandering sheep. Since sheep are so prone to wander (and we all know the pull of this in our lives), it is good to know that our Shepherd is ever ready to pursue us with goodness and lovingkindness when we do.
The Shepherd's willingness to receive us is expressed with pastoral sensitivity and wisdom in a letter written by Basil the Great (4th century) to a "fallen virgin" in order to try to win her back to the faith. Obviously, this woman's sexual sin had caused her to abandon her faith in Christ. In the letter below (of which I quote the final section), Basil calls the woman back to Christ by highlighting that Christ is the Great Physician who heals the sick and the Good Shepherd who goes out of His way to recover the wandering sheep. Basil writes:
Let us never despair of ourselves, if only we depart from evil. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. "O come, let us worship and fall down; let us weep before Him." The Word Who invited us to repentance calls aloud, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." There is, then, a way of salvation, if we will...
The Lord is faithful in all His words. He does not lie when He says, "Though your sins be scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." The great Physician of souls, Who is the ready liberator, not of you alone, but of all who are enslaved by sin, is ready to heal your sickness. It was His sweet and saving lips that said, "They that be whole need not a physician but they that are sick. ... I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
What excuse have you, what excuse has any one, when He speaks thus? The Lord wishes to cleanse you from the trouble of your sickness and to show you light after darkness.
The good Shepherd, Who left them that had not wandered away, is seeking after you. If you give yourself to Him He will not hold back. He, in His love, will not disdain even to carry you on His own shoulders, rejoicing that He has found His sheep which was lost. The Father stands and awaits your return from your wandering. Only come back, and while you are yet afar off, He will run and fall upon your neck, and, now that you are cleansed by repentance, will enwrap you in embraces of love. He will clothe with the chief robe the soul that has put off the old man with all his works; He will put a ring on hands that have washed off the blood of death, and will put shoes on feet that have turned from the evil way to the path of the Gospel of peace. He will announce the day of joy and gladness to them that are His own, both angels and men, and will celebrate your salvation far and wide. For "verily I say unto you," says He, "there is joy in heaven before God over one sinner that repenteth."
If any of those who think they stand find fault because of your quick reception [back into the fellowship of the Church], the good Father will Himself make answer for you in the words, "It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for this" my daughter "was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found."
How gently, carefully, graciously, wisely, and compassionately Basil is in his attempt to win this woman back to the faith! What a model for us! And what an encouragement to us in times of wandering! May God grant us all the wisdom and compassion to speak of the Good Shepherd and Great Physician in words that minister grace to others!
© Richard J. Vincent, July 21, 2002
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