Rejoice With Me, For I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost

Today, I was passing the sacrament in Church when I noticed the fair number of people who were not partaking of the sacrament, but were passing it along to those sitting next to them. As I began noticing several others pass the tray by without partaking, a warm feeling in my heart began to glow and I was blessed with new understanding.

 A week ago in general conference, Elder Holland referenced writing from Leo Tolstoy when he wrote of a Priest. The Priest was responding to a criticism for not living up to the truths that taught. The following is the reply from the Priest:

Attack me if you wish, I do this myself, but don't attack ... the path I follow. ... If I know the way home, but am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way simply because I am staggering from side to side? ... Do not gleefully shout, 'look at him!' ... there he is crawling into a bog!' No, do not gloat, but give ... your help to anyone trying to walk the road back to God.

We may not shout or gloat when we see individuals come into the church for the first time in a while, but how do react? and are we reacting as God does? In order to better understand how God reacts to the repentant heart who is returning to the fold, lets look at the teachings of Jesus. 

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors , saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Notice that He doesn't let the sheep wander or remain alone for a long period of time. He doesn't scold the sheep. He doesn't make the sheep feel unworthy of His presence. Rather, he "layeth it on his shoulders". He personally retrieves that which was lost and carries it home. Try to capture that imagery in your head for a moment and relate it to the brother or sister who sits in the chapel on Sunday, but may feel alone. The Savior wants them there, in fact, he carried them there. He welcomes them back with warmth and love and rejoices over their return.

When we see them, do we also rejoice? is our joy also full? If so, how do we demonstrate it? If for any reason we are not as welcoming or joyful as the Savior, may we plead to feel those things. May we plead unto the father with all of the energies of heart that we may be filled with His love.

In another parable, Christ spoke of a prodigal son who left his Father and participated in "riotous living". When the son was in dire need, he decided that he would return home to his Father. He was ashamed and broken hearted. I imagine that the journey home was filled with sorrow and even fear. Perhaps, the son felt greater fear and hesitation the closer he drew to his home. He surely wondered how he would be received. The parable reads:

When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

Notice that the father didn't give his son the cold shoulder. He didn't teach him a lesson or add any shame to what the son was certainly already feeling. Rather, He ran out to him while he was still on the road. This may suggest that the father was waiting and watching day by day as he waited for his son's return. The father gave his son a welcome fit for a king, clearly demonstrating that in the eyes of the father, the worth of his son was no less that it had been before he lived "riotously".

There was nothing awkward about the interaction between father and son during this experience or the party that followed. Genuine joy and love was shared freely.

There was someone, however, who wasn't quite as joyful as the father. Someone who must have felt like the prodigal son didn't merit the joyful reception that he received. The person that felt this way was the elder brother. He was upset by the joyful reception and let pride enter his heart. Do we do the same thing? Do we create clicks in our ward that are intimidating and unwelcoming to others? Do we stay so inside of our own world that we don't even notice other people in the chapel? The Savior has put the example and made it clear how he would have us respond. With love, and without judgement.

I pray that we can avoid the feelings of the elder brother and that we can begin to see others through the eyes of the father. We should be full of joy when we see a brother or sister come back to the fold. May we always seek to help others feel the warm welcome of a loving father. May we do all in our power to give, love and serve.