Pilgrim Uniting Church, Adelaide SA SUN 19-SEP-2021 - 9.30 AM Sermon Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Pentecost 17 – A Home for all, Renewing the oikos of God. – A common interpretation of the parable of the lost sheep identifies the flock of one hundred sheep as a group of one hundred believers, one of whom is a "backslider" who has wandered away by saying or doing things not suitable for the standards of the household (the 'oikos'); and when they see Jesus bringing him back again there is great rejoicing. But – sheep are flock-minded, and if one of them gets separated, it will almost exclusively be on account of terror, perhaps from being chased by a wolf or a human. It's the same with us. Too many people are being driven from their household and community by injustice and violence, and there is an obvious need for them to be searched for, found, and cared for. The parable has some environmental and ecological inferences as well. Our greed and exploitation are robbing countless living beings of the joy of living in their own special environments, and we have put at risk the very existence of many species. God celebrates when small incremental steps are made to protect, preserve and care for all beings that interact with each other. May God enrich our home, our 'oikos', as we recognise the detrimental impact we have on human communities and our planet. May we act responsibly and creatively with each other and with all creation. Luke 15: 3-7 Playing Time   –   15:50