The Gospel
John 10:11-18
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
The Sermon
Good Shepherd Sunday
Jesus said, “I am the
good shepherd.” It is a metaphor he would probably not have used
in today's culture but it brought a powerful message in the first
century. A good shepherd looks after the sheep because they have a
bond. Sheep are simple animals and they depend of the shepherd to
keep them safe. The good shepherd does more than is basically
required. He nurtures them. He defends them from harm. He protects
them with his life if necessary.
There are very few of us
today who relate to the shepherding culture. That does not mean
there are no good shepherds out there. They are all over. As you
all know, I was a school teacher for many years. In a sense I was
hired to help in shepherding children through life. I saw other
teachers who did not take their job so seriously. They saw it as a
job. Just a job.
Most of us were not like
that. We did much more than just try to fill student's heads with
information. We spent time with them during family tragedys. We
made sure their physical needs were met. Above all we nurtured them
when they were feeling lost. That is what good shepherds do.
When I think about all of
you in this congregation I see many good shepherds. You care about
your families, your community, each other. Would you lay down your
life for others. I think many of you would.
So, who are the good
shepherds in our world? Parents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers,
firefighters, policemen, teachers, farmers,........
Jesus said, I am the good
shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. He continues, “I lay
down my life for my sheep. I have other sheep who do not belong to
this flock. I must bring them also and they will listen to my
voice.” There are lots of sheep wandering around in this world. I
know I was one of them for many years. A Pew research survey
estimated that 37% of Americans attend church on a weekly basis.
That leaves a lot of sheep wandering around without a shepherd.
Jesus was aware of this two thousand years ago. There are many out
there who Jesus wants to bring into his flock, people who are ready
to listen. People who want to fill that emptiness in their lives that
cannot be filled with fame, or money, or toys. We are the hands and
feet of Christ. We can give voice to his message by being good
shepherds.
Jesus was and is the good
shepherd. He guides us with his teaching. He gives us a spiritual
safe haven, from the storms we face in our lives. Through his
sacrifice on the cross he took away the sting of sin and death.
Jesus is not done and he is counting on us to continue his mission of
bringing his flock together.
Peace,
Fr. Fred
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