A Parable in Perilous Times by Dr. Edith Humphrey
The mother bleated in the direction of the grass above, hoping she would
be heard. And she was answered: a shepherd's cry returned on the wind,
filling her with hope. But he was far away and separated from her by a
precipice - it was unlikely he could reach them in time.
The mother cried out again: a chorus of laments came from above, a group
of shepherds all shaking their heads, looking down, and saying, "Woe to
the wolf who has hurt our sheep and her lamb." Some crouched as they
surveyed the rocks, some looked for their crooks, and others conferred
together, saying, "That is not my sheep." No one started down the sheer
side, for fear of being separated from the others. One of them, the
leader, warned, "It is not good that the sheep and her lamb are alone:
let them return up the cliff forthwith!" The wolf smiled, licked his
chops, and continued to lie quietly with the sheepdogs. All this time
the shepherd hardly noticed that more from the flock had been startled
and were edging towards the cliffs.
But a little lad saw, and cried in a voice to wake the dead: "One
shepherd!
"Only one will do! If only one were to climb down, it would be enough!
Perhaps one could undo the work of the wolf! If not, at least the sheep
and her lamb would not die alone."
Which of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not
leave all and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? He who
loses his life shall save it (and the lives of others too.)
Edith Humphrey is Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary. An Anglican layperson, she served as Professor of
Scripture at Augustine College, Ottawa, Canada, from 1997 - 2002. Prior
to her departure, she served as Dean. Before her service at Augustine
College, she had an extended career as Lecturer at several colleges and
universities in Canada. Her Ph.D. is from McGill University, Montreal in
New Testament and Early Christian Origins. Her personal web site is at:
http://www.edithhumphrey.net/
- END -
|