Ezekiel 34:11-16
Romans 5:5-11
Luke 15:3-7
Recently I have been revisiting Greg Boyle sj’s book, Tattoos on the Heart. Fr Greg works with gangs in Los Angeles and his book tells the most moving story of how God’s love triumphs through every form of adversity.
Fr Greg tells the story of a plane journey he took with three gang members. They had been to an event at the White House and on the return journey one of the homies shares his story with a stewardess. It takes 45 mins and by the end of it she is crying. He returns to his seat a little non plussed. Fr Greg says to him;
‘She saw that you are somebody. She recognized you . . . as the shape of God’s heart. Sometimes people cry when they see that.’
All of our readings today tell us something about the shape of God’s heart. The prophet Ezekiel offers the image of the Good Shepherd. While few of us will have direct experience of tending sheep, the image is accessible. There’s one detail that I love. This shepherd doesn’t just look out for those those who have been scattered and need rescuing. He promises to keep and eye on the ‘fat and healthy’ too. This shepherd has a heart big enough for everyone.
In Paul’s Letter to the Romans we hear that ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts’. This is a heart that overflows with love. This is not the careful pouring where there is just enough to go round. This is God’s infinite pouring.
In Luke’s story of the Lost Sheep we see the shape of the heart of God again. This time it is a wreckless heart. By all accounts leaving your ninety nine sheep to go in search of one is a risky strategy. This shepherd is a risk taker.
There are so many ways for us to be the shape of God’s heart.
Look out today for the shape of God’s heart in all those you meet today.