May 7, 2006

Who Needs a Shepherd These Days?

Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-11

As you may have guessed from the references in the prayers and hymns, the sermon today is about shepherds. Sheep and shepherds are not something most of us know about first-hand. Shepherds belong back in Bible times, or at the least, in a more agricultural society than ours. So the question in the sermon title is legitimate - "Who needs a shepherd these days?"

Most of us probably think of sheep as fluffy animals, lazily grazing in a beautiful meadow. Or maybe we think of the cute, cuddly lambs in a kiddy zoo. Or the replicas of sheep in our Christmas manger scenes. Or maybe you can recall some nursery rhymes that glorify the intelligence of these creatures, like Mary's lamb that followed her to school one day. All in all, we probably have pretty good feelings about sheep. But our feelings may come from ignorance. That's why we often miss the point of what Jesus is saying when he - and others in the Bible - makes references to sheep.

Truth is - all romantic notions aside - sheep are stupid. They can't find food or water on their own. If they get lost, they can't find their way home. An unexpected noise sends them running in all directions. They panic quickly and easily, aren't much good at defending themselves, and they definitely need shepherding. But they do have some good points also. Aside from their warm wool and the succulent meat they provide, sheep are also very loyal animals, not only to the other sheep in the herd, but they're especially loyal to their shepherd. Within limits sheep can be trained to hear their shepherd's voice, and to respond to his voice and to no other. They can be trained to recognize their shepherd, to know him when they see him coming. Hearing and knowing, they will follow. Adding the negatives and positives together, sheep are remarkably like you and me.

So much for the sheep. What about the shepherds? Jesus addresses this question in our Gospel lesson today by contrasting a thief or a bandit with a typical "good" shepherd. First we hear about the thief who comes into the sheepfold, climbing in by another way - not the acceptable way - versus the good shepherd who comes in by the gate provided. Perhaps Jesus is talking about us - you and me, who in our quest to become self-reliant and self- sufficient - often ignore the way of Jesus, often avoid the way of the cross, often charge ahead on our own, and at times completely forget about the Good Shepherd. And when we do circumvent the "gate," we rob ourselves of the opportunities and possibilities that only the life of faith can provide. Yet we still by books with titles such as: "Looking Out for Number One," or "How to Take Charge of Your Life," or "How to Lift Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps," and many, many others. There's nothing wrong with trying to be self-sufficient, unless that self-sufficiency becomes our messiah. (i)

Second, Jesus contrasts the thief whose strange voice is unknown and frightens the sheep, with the good shepherd whose voice is recognized and known by the flock, and to whom they willingly respond and follow. Perhaps again Jesus is talking about you and me, who in our deafness to the call of God, miss hearing the life-saving message of salvation. Only when our lives are linked with God's ways, only when we come to know Christ, to really know him, only then will we be able to hear God's call to us, and readily respond in faith.

Two stories come to mind. The first is about little 4-year old Susie, who falls down while roller skating in her driveway. The neighbor across the street sees her fall and comes running over to the rescue. "Don't cry, Susie," she says confidently, "I will help you." Even though she's not her parent, the neighbor knows all the principles of parenthood, and she starts applying them. But Susie cries all the louder. Presently, Susie's mother comes on the scene, and with a couple of reassuring words, a hug and a kiss, soon Susie is as good as new. Even knowing the principles of Christian living is not enough for us - we need to know, to really know, the Good Shepherd. (ii)

This brings us to the second story, about a famous English actor who was being honored at a banquet. After dinner, instead of the usual speech, the actor offers to recite any dramatic reading that might be requested. There is an awkward pause, and then an old minister asks him to recite the 23rd Psalm. The actor agrees to do so, on condition that the minister will also recite it after he has. Reluctantly, the old pastor agrees. The actor recites the 23rd Psalm with all his oratory powers, and when he finishes there is a great burst of applause. When the applause dies down, the old minister slowly begins: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want ...." When he finishes the psalm, there is no applause, but some eyes are moist, and some heads are bowed. The great actor puts his hand on the minister's shoulder and says to the crowd: "I appealed to your sense of the dramatic, because I know the 23rd Psalm. This man appealed to your hearts, because he knows the Shepherd." (iii)

The third contrast in our passage is between those who came before - the thieves and bandits - and the Good Shepherd himself. Perhaps these bandits are the various false messiahs of that time: the self-sufficient Pharisees; or the teachers who perverted the faith and misled the people; or violent revolutionaries and zealots who wanted to overthrow their adversaries by force. Who are these false messiahs in more modern times? Think of those who have perverted the gospel: Hitler, promoting his pure-race ideals in Nazi Germany - often with the blessing of Christians; Ku Klux Klaners and others like them, who have distorted Christianity to their own warped ends; autocratic religious leaders like Jim Jones of a generation ago, leading gullible followers down the road to destruction; even some of the shallow TV evangelists who have had such a hard time practicing what they preach. Idols that some of us may worship include the gods of self-sufficiency, success, or sexual exploitation. The violent revolutionaries and zealots of our day? - those who deal with their adversaries only by force and terrorism? Sadly, there are too many of these to name.

The fourth and final contrast is between the thief, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and Jesus, who comes that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Think about what robs you of your time, your dignity, your sense of self-worth? What is it that destroys in you that which is good, noble, and pure? What policies in society do we promote - or do nothing to change - that destroy God's divine intentions for God's children, by making some folks bear the burdens of poverty, hunger, oppression, discrimination, or various illnesses? The life that Jesus offers us is a new life beginning now, not just in the time to come, but also now - a new life liberated from all that would confine, restrict, or destroy it, (iv) a new life of extraordinary quality, all shallowness and meaninglessness gone, a life overflowing with abundant fullness.

The essence of our faith is that God's shepherd-like love is ours to have. Jesus, the Good Shepherd has been sent to us to love us as the shepherd does his sheep, to watch over and protect us, to heal, forgive, and sustain us. As children of God we never walk alone; God is always with us. But if we fail to hear God's call, if we fail to recognize the Christ in our midst, if we fail to really and deeply know our Lord, if we fail to take up our cross and follow him, then the joys of that new life of abundance will escape us - we will not enjoy them, we will not experience them. God will still be with us for sure, because God never abandons us even when we go astray - but there will be something significantly missing from our lives.

The Good Shepherd knows us by name. If we are lost, the Good Shepherd finds us. If we are hurt, the Good Shepherd nurses us back to wholeness. If we shift our loyalty to an unworthy shepherd, a false messiah, we are welcomed back with open arms, when we admit our wrongs. Even when we die, the Good Shepherd promises to take care of us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Who needs a shepherd these days? You and I do, for sure. (v)

There's just one more piece of the puzzle, one more answer to the question, "who needs a shepherd these days?" Besides you and me needing the Good Shepherd, the world also needs the Good Shepherd - and the world needs folks like you and me to be shepherds to others. We are called, each one of us, we are called to be shepherds to others in Christ's name. Such a calling is not easy, and may include suffering and sacrifice. Regardless the risks or consequences, this is our calling, to respond when God taps us for service. In Alan Paton's book, "Cry the Beloved Country," the tragic story of prejudice and hate between whites and blacks in South Africa, there's a priest who is full of the Shepherd's love, and who labors to bring about reconciliation even at the risk of his own life. He is finally honored and praised for being so kind and compassionate, but he humbly replies: "No, my friends. I am not, as you say, kind and good. It's just that God has put his hands upon me, that's all." (vi)

In the rites of ordination and confirmation, we "lay hands" upon the one to be ordained or confirmed - we also do this with those who serve as deacons, Stephen Ministers, and Parish Nurse - symbolically reenacting what God does to each one of us. God in Christ lays hands upon each of us daily, not only forgiving, renewing, and comforting us, but also empowering and sending us forth to be loving shepherds in Christ's name. And so, to the question, "who needs a shepherd these days," there are two answers: We do - we need a shepherd whom we can follow and who will watch over us; and the world does - the world also needs the Good Shepherd, and it needs us to be caring shepherds to the lonely and lost, to the sick and dying and those who mourn, to the hungry and heartbroken - to all in need of a shepherd's care. My friends, there is no finer calling in life. As you have been blessed, go, be a shepherd, and be a blessing to others. Amen.

The Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
Rev. Kenneth C. Landall

i Merrill R. Abbey, Word & Witness, 5/10/81.
ii Emphasis, 5/13/84, p. 10.
iii J. Walter Malone, Doran's Ministers Manual, 1981, pp. 2-4.
iv Word & Witness, op. cit.
v The Clergy Journal, 5-6/80, p. 37.
vi The Clergy Journal, 3/84, op. cit.