All Saints Lutheran Church

Pastor Raita Neely

Easter 4C May 2, 2004

Rev.7:9-17; John 10:22-30

In the church, today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Every year on the 4th Sunday of Easter we hear texts that speak of shepherds and sheep. In Jesus' day, these images were very helpful, because they were part of daily life. Everyone knew what shepherds did, everyone probably knew a shepherd or two. Today we might point to someone who works with computers - everyone knows one or two of these folk, but most of us don't really understand what it is they do. As for knowing about sheep, for most of us the closest we come to them today is wearing a wool sweater, or occasionally eating a lamb chop. As for shepherds, well, maybe we have caught a glimpse of one or two in an old Western.

But images of shepherds and sheep fill the pages of the Bible, so let's try to deal with them. First of all, there is a long standing tradition in the Hebrew Bible of naming God as the shepherd and the people as sheep.

Before we accept or reject this shepherd image of God, let's look at some texts that tell us more. In the book of Ezekiel we read, "I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them justice." (Ezekiel 34:15-16) The shepherd is the one who is steadfast, present, caring and able to nurture, to guide, to heal, to protect.

The 23rd Psalm is probably the most memorized text of the Bible. "The Lord is my shepherd.......followed by a serene description of calm waters, green pastures, and a table laden with food. At first glance, it all seems surreal, too good to be true, until you notice that the shepherd guides the sheep in paths of justice - nothing easy about that, that the green pastures are juxtaposed with dark valleys, and that as you sit at the banquet table you are surrounded by your enemies. What at first seemed like a life of leisure, turns out to be a life much like ours, life that has many dangers, even terrors, but it is a life spent in the presence and under the protection of the Lord. This is not a life of blind following, but rather a life of radical trust. Even in the dark valleys, even at a table where I am surrounded by enemies, the Lord is with me.

This mornings' text from Revelation takes an interesting metaphoric turn, as we find out that the Lamb at the center of the throne, is also the shepherd who will guide to the springs of the water of life where God will wipe away every tear.

Jesus uses the shepherd image in his teaching as another way to describe God's love. You remember the story of the 99 sheep who are left by the shepherd because one is lost...and the shepherd of the flock goes looking for the lost one, climbing craggy hills, searching caves, risking thorn bushes, until he finds it. And then, great rejoicing, as the flock is together again.

Just before our reading for today, Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." The one who walks with the flock not only searches for the lost, but also makes the greatest sacrifice, giving his life so that the sheep may live.

The question this morning is - what do you think of all this? Do you, sophisticated people from Minnetonka , Hopkins , Eden Prairie , and a few other nearby communities, need a shepherd?

Surely with our technology and independence, you don't ever lose your way. How can anyone get lost as long as Best Buy and Circuit City have sales on cordless phones and cell phones. And if not your phone then surely your beeper can chase you down just about anywhere? And can't you find just about everything you feel you need in life on the web?

In our modern world, is there still a need for a shepherd? If so, then we would have to admit to being something like those sheep who moved on the heights and down into the shadowy valleys in Palestine ..sometimes errantly wandering off, sometimes getting caught in a thorn bush, sometimes coming close to loosing our lives as we are chased by a fierce wild lion, sometimes falling prey to whatever small or large thing led us off the safe path that the shepherd had shown us.

We would have to admit that we are those who need to be nurtured, who need someone to hang in there with us, to be for us, to call us by name so we know whose flock we belong to.

Sometimes, knowing a name can be a matter of life or death. The story is told that a missionary was traveling in northern India when he saw a young shepherd boy keeping a huge flock. The missionary was impressed by the size of the flock and the tender age of the shepherd so he stopped to ask how many sheep were in the boy's care. The boy replied, "I don't know, I can't count."

The missionary asked him, "How do you know if some of the sheep haven't wandered off when you get to the place where you're going to camp at night?"

To his astonishment the boy answered, "I don't know how many wander off, but I know which ones. I can't count, but each sheep has a name, and I know their names."

In saying that we need a shepherd we would have to acknowledge that we need a guide who leads us to greener pastures than we can find on our own and who with tender strength hangs tough with us through the dry seasons. One who would even be willing to lay down his life for us.

Do you think it would be so bad to be in such a flock? To have a shepherd who never uses all the power that is his? Who gives great freedom along with lavishly giving his love. Who keeps calling the names of the strays over and over again as he hopes they will return to his flock again. Who forgives tax collectors and tax evaders, prostitutes and those who use them, those who deny him and those who abandon him. What a shepherd whose words, whose actions, whose suffering all lead to our healing! Would it be so bad to know his care, his voice, his purpose for your life?

And here is a powerful mystery which is impossible to explain. You hang around with the shepherd long enough, and his Spirit starts to work on you. You listen to his voice and obey his guidance, you experience his love and forgiveness, and one day you realize that some of his courage, compassion, and tender strength have been given you as gift, and you have become just a little bit like the shepherd. You find yourself standing by others in the flock in their dark valleys. You become more aware of those who are hungry around you and you share your green pasture with them. You find words and deeds that comfort those who have been newly sheared of their dignity or humanity. It means weeping in the night when someone you love has strayed away, but never ceasing to pray for them and entrusting them to the care of the Good Shepherd.

Sometimes shepherds look like a teacher who takes extra time with you, or a confirmation guide who has spent three years sharing faith with you and praying for you. Sometimes shepherds look like loving, faithful mothers and fathers who have brought you to Sunday School and Confirmation, who have taught you that your neighbor is a gift from God who needs your care. Sometimes shepherds look like teens who volunteer in many different places: raking a yard, offering child care for a tired parent, helping younger children learn. Shepherds look like people of any age who go out of their way to include those who find it hard to belong in our world. Sometimes shepherds are young indeed, they are toddlers, who seeing their mother with a tear stained face initiate an immediate "family hug". Somehow they already know that the circle of family love has great healing power. A shepherd looks like the one who has the courage to confront an addiction in a colleague. Sometimes shepherds look like grandparents who take the time to pass the faith to their grandchildren or are willing to talk or listen or be with a child who needs them.

Shepherds come in all sizes and all ages, they can be male or female. It matters not a bit in which country of the world they live, they all speak the same language, the language of love and acceptance that the Good Shepherd has taught them. They have no fear for today or for tomorrow for they love and trust the Good Shepherd and they hang on to his promises: the promise of eternal life- death becoming a new beginning, not an end to a relationship with the Good Shepherd. And a promise of a life that is secure. Nothing can snatch them away from the shepherd. It does not mean they are immune to sorrow, suffering and death; but that even in the hardest moments and the darkest hour they are still conscious of the everlasting arms of God underneath and around them and so they know the gift of peace that only God can give.

Do you know the goodness and mercy of the Good Shepherd? Do you find yourself speaking the language of God's love? Have you been in a dark valley or in a shadowy place? Do you know what it is to acknowledge that you have enemies in this life, but that your shepherd can help you befriend or overcome your enemies? Then have no fear little flock, the Good Shepherd walks with you. Follow him and he will lead you to something more challenging, rewarding and more wonderful than you ever imagined. Amen.