ON THIS FOURTH WEEK AFTER EASTER EACH YEAR, WE HEAR READINGS THAT CONTAIN IMAGERY OF SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. THIS SUNDAY IS KNOWN AS “GOOD SHEPHERD” SUNDAY. BOTH THE 23RD PSALM & THE JESUS’ WORDS FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL INVITE US TO CONSIDER WHO OUR SHEPHERD IS...

SOME OF US MAY ASSOCIATE THESE TEXTS WITH SOME PARTICULAR IMAGES IN OUR MINDS – MEMORIES OF IMAGES RENDERED IN STAINED GLASS OR IN PAINTINGS OR IN SCULPTURE WHERE JESUS IS PORTRAYED AS A SHEPHERD, EITHER HOLDING A LAMB UNDER HIS ARM OR CARRYING A LAMB ACROSS HIS SHOULDERS. SOME OF US CARRY SUCH IMAGES OF ONE WHO SUPPORTS US, CARRIES US, AND WHO IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US…

THE 23RD PSALM IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FAMILIAR PASSAGES OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE. (IT MAY EVEN BE THE MOST OFTEN HEARD PIECE OF TEXT.) IT IS BOTH A LOVE POEM TO GOD & A TEXT THAT CARRIES GREAT POWER FOR US. THIS PSALM IS SO OFTEN USED AT MEMORIAL SERVICES THAT WE MAY CONNECT IT CLOSELY WITH THE ASSURANCE OF A LIFE BEYOND THIS ONE…

LET’S HEAR IT AGAIN FROM A CONTEMPORARY TRANSLATION:

GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing… You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from… True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction…Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side... Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure... You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies... You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing… Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life... I'm back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life. (EUGENE PETERSON FROM THE MESSAGE)

THE WRITER OF THE PSALM CLEARLY BELIEVED THAT GOD WAS PRESENT WITH HIM ALWAYS, OFFERING HIM GUIDANCE, DIRECTION, RESTORATION, AND COURAGE TO FACE ALL THAT LIFE OFFERS… CLEARLY THIS WRITER FELT GOD’S PRESENCE & GOD’S LOVE IN ALL HE DID.

IN TODAY’S GOSPEL READING WE HEAR JESUS SAY THAT HE IS A GOOD SHEPHERD… WE HEAR JESUS TESTIFY THAT HE IS EVEN WILLING TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.

THERE ARE OVER 500 REFERENCES TO SHEEP IN THE BIBLE… MOST OF US HERE IN THE 21ST CENTURY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT SHEEP OR SHEPHERDS… AND WE MAY NOT EVEN LIKE THE IMAGE OF BEING A SHEEP, PART OF A FLOCK, OR HAVING TO BE LEAD WHEREEVER WE GO…

IN THE ANCIENT DAYS OF ISRAEL ALMOST EVERY FAMILY OWNED A FEW SHEEP & THEREFORE, SOMEONE IN EACH HOUSEHOLD HAD TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT CARING FOR SHEEP… FOR AN AGRARIAN SOCIETY SHEEP REPRESENTED A FAMILY’S CHIEF WEALTH & LIVELIHOOD – SHEEP PROVIDE FOOD & MILK AS WELL AS WOOL FOR CLOTHING & HIDES FOR TENTS… SHEEP WERE ALSO USED AS A MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE IN A BARTERING CULTURE… SHEEP WERE CENTRAL TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE WHICH INVOLVED ANIMALS USED AS SACRIFICE AT THE TEMPLE…

EVEN THOUGH IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT EVERY FAMILY HAD SHEEP BY JESUS’ TIME, THE ROLE OF SHEPHERD & THE ART OF SHEPHERDING WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN COMMON & WELL KNOWN AMONG JESUS’ LISTENERS.

THE IMAGE OF THE SHEPHERD HAS A LONG HISTORY IN BIBLICAL TRADITION. ALL THE PATRIARCHS WERE SHEPHERDS: ABEL, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, ESAU, & JACOB… JACOB’S SONS IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES TO JOSEPH AS SHEPHERDS. MOSES WAS TAKING CARE OF SHEEP FOR HIS FATHER-IN-LAW WHEN GOD CALLED HIM INTO MINISTRY. THE YOUNG BOY DAVID WAS LOOKING AFTER HIS FATHER’S SHEEP BEFORE HE BECAME A KING… WE COULD SAY THAT SHEPHERDING WAS PART OF ISRAEL’S DNA…

IT’S NO WONDER, THEN, THAT AN AGRARIAN BASED CULTURE WOULD USE THE IMAGE OF GOD AS A SHEPHERD… SHEPERDING SERVED AS A PRETTY GOOD MODEL FOR A CAREGIVER EXTRADORDINAIRE! A SHEPHERD WORKS FULLTIME, 24-7, 365 DAYS A YEAR JOB; GOOD SHEPHERDING REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION, CONTINUOUS CARE & PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS; A SHEPHERD TENDS HIS FLOCK LIKE HIS OWN CHILDREN IF THEY ARE TO STAY ALIVE & HEALTHY… SHEPHERDS KNOW THEIR OWN FLOCK – THEY CAN IDENTIFY EACH ANIMAL IN THE HERD; SHEPHERDS DEVELOP THEIR OWN SPECIAL WAY TO CALL THEIR OWN FLOCK. EVEN IF SEVERAL FLOCKS GET INTERMINGLED ON A HILLSIDE OR AT A WATERING HOLE, WHEN THE SHEPHERD CALLS THEIR OWN SHEEP, THE FLOCK FOLLOW THE RIGHT SHEPHERD. SHEEP ARE FOLLOWERS & THEY ALWAYS FOLLOW THEIR OWN SHEPHERD…

MOST OF US AREN’T TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE ROLE OF SHEPHERD & WE DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SHEEP… I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A MODERN EQUIVALENT TO SHEPHERDING: NOW BEAR WITH ME HERE - GOING ON A CRUISE SHIP MIGHT JUST BE THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF BEING A SHEEP IN THE CARE OF SHEPHERDS…

IF YOU’VE EVEN BEEN ON A CRUISE YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT UPON ARRIVING ONE IS FIRST “HERDED” GENTLY & EFFICIENTLY ONTO A HUGE FLOATING HOME FOR THE JOURNEY… EVERY GUEST IS SHOWN TO THEIR OWN SPECIAL PLACE; EVERYONE IS WELL FED, ENTERTAINED, PAMPERED, & WELL TAKEN GOOD CARE OF BY THE CREW AT EVERY TURN… LIKE A FLOCK OF SHEEP WITH A GOOD SHEPHERD ONE’S BASIC NEEDS ARE ALL MET & ONE’S COMFORT & SAFETY ARE THE CREW’S TOP PRIORITY. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO MINGLE & ENJOY THEMSELVES WITHIN SAFE NORMS… EACH PERSON CARRIES A SPECIAL ID CARD SO THE CREW CAN ALWAYS IDENTIFY THE GUESTS. AND IF ONE DEPARTS THE SHIP TO GO ASHORE THE CREW CAREFULLY CHECKS YOU OFF & CHECKS YOU BACK ON BOARD BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME… THERE ARE PERHAPS A NUMBER OF SHEPHERDS ON A CRUISE SHIP - THE CRUISE DIRECTOR(WHO WANTS TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR EVERY NEED), THE ROOM STEWARD (WHO KEEPS EVERY CABIN IN GOOD ORDER & MADE UP DAILY); THE MAITRE’D IN THE DINING ROOM (WHO KEEPS TRACK TO BE SURE YOU GAIN ENOUGH WEIGHT ON THE TRIP!) AND YES, THEN THERE ARE OF COURSE THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CRUISE STAFF WHO ENTERTAIN & PAY ATTENTION TO BE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HAPPY & CONTENT!

WE MAY NOT BE THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE ROLE OF A SHEPHERD & THE SHEEP - WE CAN PERHAPS IMAGINE A MODERN DAY EQUIVALENT!

WHEN JESUS CALLED HIMSELF A GOOD SHEPHERD HE DIDN’T NEED MUCH TRANSLATION OR EXPLANATION… JESUS WAS WELL AWARE WHEN HE USED THE SHEEP & SHEPHERD IMAGERY OF HIS FORBEARS THAT HE WAS POINTING BACK TO FAMILIAR OLD TESTAMENT FIGURES & ALSO THE PROPHECIES THAT PROMISED THAT GOD WOULD COME TO SHEPHERD GOD’S PEOPLE…

JESUS ADDED SOMETHING NEW TO THIS ANCIENT & TRADITIONAL IMAGE OF A GOD WHO CARES FOR US LIKE A SHEPHERD… JESUS DECLARED HIMSELF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HE EVEN EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO GO SO FAR AS TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM.

JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD OFFERS TO SAVE, TO SUSTAIN, & TO REDEEM THE LIVES OF ALL WHO CHOOSE TO COME INTO THE FOLD…

JESUS CERTAINLY RAISED THE BAR FOR THE FINE ART OF SHEPHERDING…

WE ALL NEED A GOOD SHEPHERD, DON’T WE? AS FOLLOWERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD WE ARE INVITED TO DO & TO BE MORE THAN JUST PLACID FOLLOWERS… THE THEOLOGIAN KARL BARTH SAID THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN... (REPEAT)

DID YOU EVEN CONSIDER THAT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THERE IS NO SEPARATE SINGULAR FORM OF THE WORD SHEEP?

WE ARE ALL IN A COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD…

WE ARE ALL MEMBERS TOGETHER OF THE FLOCK OF JESUS CHRIST…

WE ARE ALL BOUND UP WITH THE FLOCK. (ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HERE TO IDEAS FROM A SERMON BY CYNTHIA GANO LINDNER IN CHRISTIAN CENTURY, APRIL 21, 2009)

OUR WORK IS TO LIVE & TO ACT AS STRONG AND COURAGEOUS CHRISTIANS IN DIFFICULT & CHALLENGING TIMES, KNOWING AND TRUSTING THAT GOD LOVES US & CARES FOR US ALL THE TIME… WE ALL KNOW THE PHRASE GOD IS GOOD…. ALL THE TIME… ALL THE TIME… GOD IS GOOD!

WE COME TO THIS COMMUNION TABLE TODAY TO ACKNOWLEGE THAT GOD IS OUR SHEPHERD…

WE COME TO THIS TABLE KNOWING THAT LIFE’S CHALLENGES CONFRONT US AT EVERY TURN & TRUSTING THAT WE MIGHT FIND SUSTENANCE FOR THE LIVING OF OUR DAYS…

WE COME TO THIS TABLE WITH DRY & THIRSTY SPIRITS; WE COME YEARNING FOR SOUL FOOD…

WE COME TO TAKE INTO OURSELVES SYMBOLS OF CHRIST’S LIFE & BODY SO THAT OUR SOULS MIGHT BE REFRESHED & RENEWED…

LET US PREPARE TO COME TO THE TABLE… AMEN