Good Shepherd Sunday Sermon

The fourth Sunday is Easter is designated in many churches as Good Shepherd Sunday. The scriptures we have heard refer to the role of the shepherds, especially related to Jesus. Sheep and shepherds are familiar topics in the Bible, sheep being mentioned about 750 times. Sheep were valuable possessions for the ancient Hebrews. They provided milk and meat, as well as wool for clothing. Sheep also had religious significance as they were used in the sacrificial offerings to God. This is the central reason for Jesus being called the Lamb of God, to recognize his sacrifice as great religious significant.

Shepherding is an important vocation in the Middle East- both in ancient times and today. In fact, the first job listed in the Bible is found in Gen. 4:2 where it is recorded that Abel was a keeper of sheep. Yet, shepherds were not often regarded with much esteem, and there was frequent tension between farmers, tillers of the ground and shepherds or as they were also called pastoralists.

Because sheep were worth so much, shepherds needed to take good care of their flocks. They kept watch over them during the day and through the night protecting them from wild animals, with a sling or a rod. They provided them with pasture and water-no simple task in a rocky and arid place.

In most cases, shepherd looked after a number of people’s sheep together. Yet, for all the important of shepherding, it was not considered a noble profession, which makes it all the more interesting that the Bible dares to image God as a shepherd, and that this image has throughout the centuries had enduring attraction.

Shepherds in Palestine generally went in front of their flocks rather than herding them from behind. Calling their sheep by name, the shepherd would lead the flock from pasture to pasture. The sheep indeed knew the voice of their shepherd, and would follow them. The shepherd was more than just someone who watched where the sheep went, but would give special attention to expectant ewes, newborn lambs, sick and injured animals, and would rescue the lost. The work called for a combination of skills including diligence, compassion, endurance, strength and stamina.

As we hear the Psalm, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. We sense the amazing care felt by the flock of God’s. He makes me lie down in green pastures, A god who provides our basic needs, that fills us with calm and restores our souls. He leads us by the still waters. The sense of protection of his rod and his staff they comfort me.

This is a beautiful text written to describe the intimate relationship of being one of the flock that God calls us by name and in love and trust we follow that call.

It is a modern day analogy about being a bunch of sheep, used especially with teenagers about following the crowds, aimlessly wandering wherever they are lead. A bunch of sheep that simply follow without thinking for them selves, now this can be true. I mean as Christians can we become a bunch of sheep that simply follow the crowd or the group? Are we called to become part of society? Not at all. So as we take a look at 1 John, we see that the writer of these scriptures links Jesus’ action with the actions of the church. Believers are called to a life where mind and actions are in harmony. The presence of the Holy Spirit is mentioned as a sign that Jesus is present with believers, a shepherding force to enable them to love and love in truth and action.

It is rather hard for many people today to relate to the shepherd comparison, so what does the metaphor shepherd mean to us today? I think this is where the 1 John passage helps us. All too often we can separate church from life. We can tend as we run scheduled days to contain our faith to Sunday morning, or a prayer at night or a grace at a meal. Too often we can not hear the calling Jesus or the presence of the Spirit when we are doing the mundane from washing dishes or putting the garbage out. It is somehow difficult for us to maintain that presence and that calling to attain the harmony in mind and soul, in faith and action, in truth and peace offered for each moment of our lives. Yet, we are called to follow in the path of Jesus the shepherd who leads us each and every moment of our lives.

How do we find the balance that incorporates Christ into calling ourselves Christians? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we see our lives tasks as just tasks and not as ministry. The minister ministers and the rest of us just follow. But the reality is there are ministering opportunities in each of our lives everyday. It reminds me of the short film A Charlie Brown’s Christmas. Pigpen who also leaves a huge cloud of dust in the air whenever he goes, ponders that he might be carrying around with him the dust of some ancient civilizations. “Kind of makes you want to treat me with more respect, doesn’t it”? he suggests. Likewise seeing even the most menial of task in life and church as ministries invites us to see others with more respect.