Fourth Sunday of Easter: Risen Christ, Shepherd Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9:36-43 (NRSV)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever!
Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

John 10:22-30 (NRSV)

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Blog Reflection

This is one of my favorite Sundays in the Easter Season.  After three full Sundays of celebrating the Risen Christ; here we get to meditate on a very beautiful way to think of Jesus.  

The image of Jesus being the Good Shepherd in a beautiful hill country such as what we see in the image above, fills us with a sense of peace and tranquility.  The green pastures with only sheep and shepherd, beautiful mountains and trees fill us with a sense of wonder.  In these days as events around us seem so ugly with no end in sight; thinking of Jesus as The Good Shepherd feels like the relief we need.

The pastures in which Christians find ourselves are anything but peaceful and serene.  Our Christian Faith continues to be mocked and damaged in the form of "bathroom bills" and bills promoting discrimination against LGBTQ people on a fast track.  Yet, the programs that could help the poor, homeless, disabled and unemployed get their funds depleted and given to military defense programs.  Federal and State legislation that could be used to protect innocent people from the excessive gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods, schools and churches are denied a fair hearing because of lobbyists with very deep pockets.  These and many more issues in our society are being promoted by those who claim that this is what Jesus died to "save us from" on the Cross.  In so doing, our Lord Jesus the Good Shepherd becomes nothing more than a picture on the wall and a story told.  There is nothing more to the story, when our stories are no longer heard.

I want to tell you all a story of what someone I care about very much experienced this past week.

He is thirty-five years old.  Less than two years ago, his husband/partner died of cancer.  A year ago he was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with massive congestive heart failure.  His heart works now, but only at about 46% .  He has to take Nitro for occasional chest pains.  He gets headaches form the Nitro after he takes it.  He also experiences dizzy spells due to vertigo.  He has asthma.  He is obviously unable to work because of his health condition.  He is able to get on a local health care program through Medicaid, but he can only go to certain doctors.  He has applied for disability and has an eighteen month wait for an answer.  He is very fortunate to be in the care of his late husband's family.  He has applied for food assistance, but has recently lost the assistance because of a law that requires him to take classes about how to get employed.  In his health condition, no employer would hire him.  He is too much of a liability if anything happens to him on the job.  

It troubles me deeply that as a society we have come to this point, where helping this unhealthy young man is too much to ask of our political and religious institutions.  As Christians we are called to follow the example of our Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, to seek out the lost and to be an inclusive people who welcome and embrace others.  Other "sheep" may not be in the same pasture with us Christians, but, they are still God's people nonetheless.  As recipients of God's love and salvation through the mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection; we are empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to challenge the status quo with the true Gospel of Christ by which the marginalized and broken find a place for healing and reconciliation.  

As we meditate on Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd today, may we spend sometime in holy silence to listen to our Shepherd call us to be His prophetic witnesses.  May we pray for the power of the Holy Spirit that we may welcome all people so that they may find in Christians a safe place to cool their burning feet, wash the sweat off their brows and find some rest in the One who's yoke is easy and burden light.  After all, the Pasture is not only a beautiful place to be.  It is God's atmosphere of limitless possibilities.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Guide Us, Good Shepherd

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:5-12 (NRSV)

The day after they had arrested Peter and John for teaching about Jesus and the resurrection, the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


1 John 3:16-24 (NRSV)

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

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." 

Blog Reflection

The society and culture in which we live is so full of "doing it my way" that the idea of a shepherd is too remote.  At the same time, our culture is all too vulnerable to being directed by greed, power, prejudice and violence.  Leaving ourselves without the Holy One who can lead us to a greater existence of ourselves and one another, is like traveling through an ice cold climate without warm clothing and food.  It is only a matter of time before the elements cause the deterioration of our overall health.

The readings for this weekend, give us a glimpse of what a shepherd looks like within the Christian Faith.  A shepherd is one who takes great responsibility for the sheep entrusted to them.  A qualified shepherd is one who knows each sheep by name and does what the shepherd can to feed, guide and protect them.  A shepherd is so concerned with the life of the flock, that the shepherd is ready to sacrifice her/his life for them.  

As Christians who follow a Liturgical cycle of readings, the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season is dedicated to the image of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.  Why?  Because for Christians, Jesus is the shepherd who has laid down His life for all of God's people.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd in Name, word and deed.  Jesus lived into the life of a shepherd in His death and resurrection.  The center of God's action on our behalf is love.  The love of God for all of us was poured into the Incarnate Word who is Jesus, and from Him we receive the grace to love one another.

The image of Jesus as a Shepherd has been badly tarnished by those who use the Name of Jesus to justify discrimination by way of rhetoric and political maneuvering for the sole purpose of raising up wealthy enterprises.  The Name of Jesus as the true Shepherd is nothing more than an excuse to spread misinformation about women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, the sick and poor.  Such misinformation leads to encouraging violence and oppression that discourages people from believing in Christians as nothing more than a group of irrational religious people.  Such individuals who lead groups like the National Organization for Marriage, The Family Research Council, The American Family Association and others like them, only speak for a specific group of Christians.  They do not represent who Jesus Christ is and what He is about.  They do not speak for all Christians.  The same can be said for those who deny the reality of climate change, workers rights, and affordable health care for every person. 

As Christians who are baptized into a tradition that values the dignity of every human being, we are also responsible for representing the image of Jesus Christ the true Good Shepherd.  We are followers of the Jesus who cared deeply about the marginalized, and sought to include them among all of God's people.  Jesus made room for the sick, lonely, the dead, women, and many more.  Jesus resisted the type of culture that wanted one group of people to dominate another.  In Jesus our Good Shepherd, God valued each person and by the Holy Spirit empowers us to do the same.   As Jesus is our example, so we need to pray for the clarity to follow our Good Shepherd to do as He did.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, The Book of Common Prayer, p.225).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Jesus our Mother, Shepherd Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)

Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612).


1 Peter 2:19-25 (NRSV)

It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

"He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth."

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Blog Reflection

In Enriching Our Worship 1: Morning and Evening Prayer, The Great Litany, The Holy Eucharist, there are two canticles that strike me on this Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother's Day.

One is Canticle Q : A Song of Christ's Goodness by St. Anselm of Canterbury on page 39.

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you;
  you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride,
  tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds,
  in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life;
  by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
  through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
  your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us;
  in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness,
  for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.

The second is Canticle R: A Song of True Motherhood by St. Julian of Norwich on page 40.

God chose to be our mother in all things
  and so made the foundation of his work,
  most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin's womb.
God, the perfect wisdom of all,
  arrayed himself in this humble place.
Christ came in our poor flesh
  to share a mother's care.
Our mothers bear us for pain and for death;
  Our mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
Christ carried us within him in love and travail,
  until the full time of his passion.
And when all was completed and he carried us so for joy,
  still all this could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.
All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God,
  for the love of Christ works in us;
  Christ is the one whom we love.

I think this is one of those Sundays, where I need to let the Holy Spirit use the message contained in the Scriptures and the Canticles do Her own talking.

All I will add is my own prayer that we will all look to Jesus as our Mother and our Shepherd to lead us into a deeper relationship of love for God, our neighbor and ourselves.  May Jesus lead us away from violence, brutality, oppression, injustice and prejudice so that we may safely graze on the pastures where Jesus our Mother and Shepherd may feed us well.

May Jesus our Mother and Shepherd bring back the 200 girls abducted in Nigeria. 

May Jesus our Mother and Shepherd lead us to care for the poor, the sick, the marginalized and those who's name and face are known to God alone.

May Jesus our Mother and Shepherd, guide us in our journey of faith and life.

Amen.

Prayer

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

Fourth Sunday in Easter: O Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Lead Us Out of the Violence

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9: 36-43 (NRSV)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. 

Psalm 23 (BCP., 612)

Revelation 7: 9-17 (NRSV)

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God,

and worship him day and night within his temple,

and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;

the sun will not strike them,

nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

John 10: 22-30 (NRSV)

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Blog Reflection

I think all of us wish we could just rewind this past week and forget all that happened.  The terrible bombing at the Boston Marathon, the catastrophic explosion in Texas, the tragic shooting of the young security officer at MIT and the manhunt on Friday with the national media attention. This past week is one of horrific violence and images forever stuck in our minds.  Runners and spectators with lost limbs and lives from the Boston Marathon and a twenty seven hour lock down.

The incidents by themselves are scary enough.  Yet, those who insist on using these events to further perpetuate the violence by exploiting racial and religious discrimination and conspiracy theories that "sexual liberalism" brought it all about, makes them that much more horrible.  Have Christians learned anything from the Paschal Mystery?  Are we forever linked to the immaturity behind a belief that God causes violence and horror based on humankind's sinfulness, so as to scare us into believing in an angry God of objective judgment only?

Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lead us out of the violence.

In Acts we read about Peter's faith resuscitating the dead body of Tabitha.  The Holy Spirit's witness to the death and resurrection of Christ, empowers those with the faith to believe do amazing things.  Yet, what is equally important is what Tabitha does out of thanksgiving for the gift of faith given to her.  She has taken seriously the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 31-46.  She becomes the embodiment of Christ to others.  While Peter's ministry of preaching, teaching and healing continues to win souls into the early Church, Tabitha does the same by living into the meaning of the Gospel in her life.  So, not even sickness and death are able to permanently claim her life. The Paschal Mystery by which she lives and works, becomes the power that resuscitates her body with new life in the witness of the resurrection, to renew life in the world around her. 

If the work of Peter and Tabitha is about healing and reconciliation, so then should ours.   A healing and reconciliation that does not spread conspiracy theories or racial and religious based prejudice. On the contrary, by those who have truly experienced the redeeming and transforming power of the Paschal Mystery, should result in a renewed reverence for the dignity of all human beings.  Especially in the shadows of all that we witnessed this past week. 

This past week, we witnessed the meaning of the Cross as EMT's, national guards, police, fire fighters, and spectators of the Boston Marathon laid down their lives to help those who tragically lost their lives or limbs.  Even in the midst of the raging blasts of fire, flying debris and danger, so many risked all to  help others, even if it meant losing their own lives or comforts to do so.   A 26 year old Sean Collier, a man born to be a police officer, became the embodiment of John 15: 12 and 13.  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Our worship of the Lamb in Revelation and prayer of thanksgiving in Psalm 23 need to pierce our hearts that are weighed down with sorrow and grief by this weeks events.  The Lord who is our shepherd leads us not into more violence, but to those green pastures where we can find rest for our weary souls.  In the company of all who enjoy the table of the Banquet of the Eucharist, we gather with all who have shed their blood for faith and justice, to worship the Lamb that was slain.   The Lamb who is Christ.  Christ who draws all people to Himself, because He has been lifted up to glorify God in all of heaven and earth.  (See John 12: 27-36). 

Our Gospels from this Sunday until the Seventh Sunday of Easter are no longer recording for us appearances of the Risen Christ.  We are brought to those stories in John beginning with Good Shepherd Sunday today, and through the discourses in St. John's Gospel.   These Gospel narratives present us with a necessity to be very careful, not to be taken back to Christianity as "the religion" that supercedes all others.  That is not what is happening here.  Nor is it an appropriate interpretation.  The messages contained here are to lead those of us into a deeper reflection of who the Crucified and Risen Christ is to us, and how we represent Him to others.   If we really regard ourselves among those  whom cannot be snatched out of the hands of Christ, then we have to be very careful about what Shepherd we are listening and responding to.   If the shepherd is one that guides us towards a spiritual isolation where Jewish people, Muslims, Atheists and those of other religions and spiritual practices are negatively stereotyped and targeted, then I don't think we are listening to the voice of Jesus, the Risen Shepherd.   If we are listening to those wolves, masked as shepherds suggesting that all the violence witnessed this week is because of church communities, States and municipalities passing marriage equality laws for LGBT Couples, individuals and families, it appears we have been snatched away from Christ, the Good Shepherd.

O Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lead us out of the violence.

Lead us away from the violence of rhetoric designed to marginalize those already stigmatized and oppressed by social, religious and political discrimination.   Lead us, O Good Shepherd away from resorting to violence because of someone who is different from ourselves. Instead let us with you, embrace the immigrant, the one seeking refuge from repression, poverty and nationalized income inequality.  Help us, O Jesus, to respond to our neighbors in charity, respect and recognition of your Divine presence in them. May we stop trying to be our own masters, and surrender to be your followers, so that we may be learn to not be afraid of the storms that cause us to sink, but to have faith to recognize you as the one who can guide us through the worst wind, fog and fire. 

May we walk by faith, and not by sight to comfort by our prayers, love and support those who have experienced the effects of this weeks violence.  May we look beyond skin color, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, gender, physical/emotional or developmental challenge, wealth status, political party, and more, to see the face of Christ the Good Shepherd, and trust in Him to lead us forward.  

As the horrible rhetoric, stereotyping and conspiracy theorists spread the lies and stories, may we stand behind Jesus Christ, who is the way, truth and life, so that through His Father, we may be lead to the way of life that is eternal and transforming.   The life of grace, where we take seriously our Baptismal Vows, and with God's help, we will live into them.  

Though God does not stop all violence, God does walk through it with us in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Risen Shepherd.  God empowers us by the Holy Spirit to be agents of Gospel conversion in our times, through the work of Christ in our lives and those of others around us. 

Amen.

Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.225).

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the
earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those
who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people
everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations
into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten
the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Mission of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.257).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Book of Common Prayer., p.833)

O Lord my God. Teach my heart this day where and how to see you, where and how to find you. You have made me and remade me, and you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, and still I do not know you. I have not yet done that for which I was made. Teach me to seek you, for I cannot seek you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in my desire, let me desire you in my seeking. Let me find you by loving you, let me love you when I find you. Amen. (Prayer of St. Anselm of Canterbury, St. Benedict's Prayer Book., p.118).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Jesus, The Good Shepherd, Guide Us to Justice, Peace and Equality

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:5-12 (NRSV)

The day after they had arrested Peter and John for teaching about Jesus and the resurrection, the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Psalm 23 (BCP., p. 612)

1 John 3:16-24

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

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." 

Blog Reflection

I actually love the Fourth Sunday of Easter, among other Sundays and Feasts during the Church Year.  I think it is awesome that we get to return to these celebrations year after year to recall what we believe, and to find new opportunities for growth from the point in which we find ourselves.

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd may seem prehistoric for us in the 21st Century.  We are a society of "do it for you here and now" technology, with opportunities for further advancement.  These and other achievements give us a sense of self-sufficiency and personal freedom.  Why in the world might we need to have a conversation about a shepherd in the age of cell-phones, computers, ATM machines and electronic mail?  

The reality is that no matter how great we become at providing the good life for ourselves, there are always those who fall through the cracks.  Just as everyone has the possibility of gaining the best of the world, everyone still has the possibility of losing it all and finding themselves at the bottom of the priority list.  There is still sickness, death, violence, prejudice and evil of all kinds.  Wars and/or controversies that divide communities all over the world, still begin faster than our willingness to work for justice, peace and equality. 

Over these past weeks we have seen an all out political, social and religious created war against women.  State governments that claim to be "getting government out of people's ways" have passed laws all over the nation that are creating two classes of women.  One class of women are those who can afford reproductive health care services, the other are those who cannot.  Just this past week, the United States Senate passed the third authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, designed to protect them from domestic abuse.  GOP Senator Chuck Grassley wanted the bill watered down, removing domestic violence protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Additional violence towards women came by way of the Vatican coming down on the Religious Women who do a lot of good work for the poor and the homeless, while also speaking up about church related violence towards women and LGBT people.   Rather than understanding their role as shepherds on behalf of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ who brings unity, peace and equality, the the Roman Churches' leadership misuses their authority by way of religious and spiritual abuse.  Many proud and powerful women are speaking out, defending their dignity and integrity.  You can read a really good article in the National Catholic Reporter here.

We  need the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd today, because of those who use his Name to exercise violence, spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse.  Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord and Good Shepherd came to lay down his life for the sheep so that we all may now that God accepts and loves us, unconditionally and all-inclusively.   If we honor Jesus as a shepherd, then we must know and understand that no amount of discrimination and violence used in the Name of the Son of God is ordained and honored by God.  No use of the Bible or Church Tradition to justify social, political and religious based bigotry has any moral basis or mission that honors Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.  On the contrary, to use the Christian Faith as an excuse for oppression and abuse is an example of what Jesus meant when he said:  "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."

As with any sheepfold, the one led and guarded by Jesus, the Good Shepherd has many sheep who are different and/or even unusual.  Each one has a beauty and purpose, even if they are not accepted by others in the flock.  Though other sheep might reject the unusual ones, Jesus loves each of us and cares for all of us as his very own.  Jesus laid down his life on the Cross and rose from the dead to give us all the hope of new and everlasting life.  That  hope is meant to inspire us to do all we can in the here and now to take good care of ourselves.  Our Shepherd also calls us to do what we can for other sheep in God's flock.   We don't all have to be perfect, white, straight, healthy, wealthy, arch-conservative Bible beaters, male or even Christian.  God's sheepfold is inclusive, where each sheep is special and redeemable, with God being the Savior and the ultimate decider of what our real destiny is. 

May the Risen Jesus, our Good Shepherd, guide everyone of us to justice, peace and equality for all of God's people. 


Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).


Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).


Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).