The following is a link to our reading today:
Psalm 23
Every year on Good Shepherd Sunday when I hear these verses from John and the 23rd Psalm about God and Jesus being like a shepherd I think of a story I heard a few years ago. A religion professor was leading a summer school class on a tour of Palestine.
They traveled to the important places in the region and he gave lectures about each of them. One of his lectures focused on the theme of the Good Shepherd and he gave that one while they were driving through the countryside—the home of shepherds. He pointed out to them that there was an important difference between shepherds in the Middle East and those in the west.
They traveled to the important places in the region and he gave lectures about each of them. One of his lectures focused on the theme of the Good Shepherd and he gave that one while they were driving through the countryside—the home of shepherds. He pointed out to them that there was an important difference between shepherds in the Middle East and those in the west.
Western shepherds always go behind the sheep and drive them where they are supposed to go, but Middle Eastern shepherds lead their sheep and the sheep faithfully follow the shepherd and his voice everywhere. This professor was a good storyteller so he painted for his students a wonderfully warm picture of the relationship between the Middle Eastern shepherd and his flock. At that moment the bus had to stop to allow a flock of sheep to cross the road. And lo and behold the shepherd was behind the flock driving them across the road. The professor of course was shocked and he jumped off the bus to question the shepherd, “I was taught that shepherds in the Middle East lead their sheep and the sheep follow because they love and trust their shepherd. Was I wrong?” The man responded, “No you are not wrong. Shepherds here do lead their sheep. But I am not a shepherd. I am driving the sheep because I am the village butcher!”
Now this story may be a religious “urban legend,” but I think it is a good illustration all the same. There is a huge difference between being led by a shepherd and being driven by a butcher. Now I have a question for you, how often in the past few days, weeks, months or years have you felt like you were being driven through your life? If you said very often, I would be willing to bet that you are not alone. We are living in a driven culture. Driven to make more money, be more successful, own more things and on and on. And then there are our own personal drives. Maybe you feel driven by your own compulsiveness and perfectionism—“things need to be done right and right means I am the only one who can do the job.” Maybe you feel driven by obligations. Maybe you feel driven by your fears or despair, or the desire to be accepted.
Now this story may be a religious “urban legend,” but I think it is a good illustration all the same. There is a huge difference between being led by a shepherd and being driven by a butcher. Now I have a question for you, how often in the past few days, weeks, months or years have you felt like you were being driven through your life? If you said very often, I would be willing to bet that you are not alone. We are living in a driven culture. Driven to make more money, be more successful, own more things and on and on. And then there are our own personal drives. Maybe you feel driven by your own compulsiveness and perfectionism—“things need to be done right and right means I am the only one who can do the job.” Maybe you feel driven by obligations. Maybe you feel driven by your fears or despair, or the desire to be accepted.
There is a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon that always comes to my mind when I think about this. In the cartoon Calvin is very anxious and distressed and he says: “God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.” How often have you felt that way? It is hard not to feel driven. It is hard not to despair.
And then we have good shepherd Sunday. We hear about green pastures and still waters. “He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.” We hear that we are sheep who are protected by the shepherd, Jesus, the one who walks ahead of us and leads us with his voice. The one who lays his life down for us, the one who puts himself between us and the thieves and bandits and butchers of the world. The one who knows each of us intimately and calls us by name.
And then we have good shepherd Sunday. We hear about green pastures and still waters. “He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.” We hear that we are sheep who are protected by the shepherd, Jesus, the one who walks ahead of us and leads us with his voice. The one who lays his life down for us, the one who puts himself between us and the thieves and bandits and butchers of the world. The one who knows each of us intimately and calls us by name.
It is a comforting message. One of hope and life. And you may find yourself wondering, “where are the green pastures and still waters, how can I be led by this shepherd to them, how can I hear Jesus’ voice?” For we live in a world that surrounds us with voices.
It can be very difficult to hear Jesus’ voice in the midst of all the noise. It can be very easy to be deceived into following the voices of the bandits, thieves and butchers of the world—the voices that do not call us in order to protect us—the voices that do not lead us to green pastures and still waters, the voices that do not bring us abundant life.
Well, I am sure all of us can think of someone in our lives whose voice is instantly recognizable to us. Maybe it is a member of your family or a close friend. How did you get to know that voice? How did it become so recognizable? How did you get to the place where you could pick that voice out even when you and that person were on opposite sides of a crowded and conversation filled room? Well you must have talked with that person and listened to that person. You spent time with him or her. You probably have a relationship with that person.
It can be very difficult to hear Jesus’ voice in the midst of all the noise. It can be very easy to be deceived into following the voices of the bandits, thieves and butchers of the world—the voices that do not call us in order to protect us—the voices that do not lead us to green pastures and still waters, the voices that do not bring us abundant life.
Well, I am sure all of us can think of someone in our lives whose voice is instantly recognizable to us. Maybe it is a member of your family or a close friend. How did you get to know that voice? How did it become so recognizable? How did you get to the place where you could pick that voice out even when you and that person were on opposite sides of a crowded and conversation filled room? Well you must have talked with that person and listened to that person. You spent time with him or her. You probably have a relationship with that person.
That is exactly what we need to do with our shepherd, Jesus. And we have a word for this talking we do with Jesus, and this word is prayer. We need to spend time in conversation with our Good shepherd. Tell him your joys and sorrows. Tell him what you are thankful for and what makes you angry. Ask him for help with the decisions and challenges of your life. You who are parents know you are supposed to spend “quality time” with your children.
Well, take a few moments each day to spend “quality time” with Jesus. But, don’t just talk at him. Take some time in those moments to quiet the voices around you, including your own voice, and listen for Jesus’ response to you. Take some time in quiet to listen.
Read the Bible, that great book that tells the story of humankind’s encounters with God over thousands of years. Become so familiar with those stories that they become your story too. Join in worship each Sunday where we know Jesus is present because he told us that when two or three are gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them. Hear the word of God read and proclaimed. Pray with Jesus’ other sheep. Be supported and uplifted by those around you. Share in Jesus’ body and blood and celebrate our Good Shepherd as we gather together around the altar. And finally, go out and serve others. Help your neighbors who are in need. I guarantee you that you will see Jesus in their faces and hear his voice when they speak.
Well, take a few moments each day to spend “quality time” with Jesus. But, don’t just talk at him. Take some time in those moments to quiet the voices around you, including your own voice, and listen for Jesus’ response to you. Take some time in quiet to listen.
Read the Bible, that great book that tells the story of humankind’s encounters with God over thousands of years. Become so familiar with those stories that they become your story too. Join in worship each Sunday where we know Jesus is present because he told us that when two or three are gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them. Hear the word of God read and proclaimed. Pray with Jesus’ other sheep. Be supported and uplifted by those around you. Share in Jesus’ body and blood and celebrate our Good Shepherd as we gather together around the altar. And finally, go out and serve others. Help your neighbors who are in need. I guarantee you that you will see Jesus in their faces and hear his voice when they speak.
Jesus, the Good shepherd, our protector, and the source of abundant life is calling each of us by name. He is calling us to green pastures, still waters and right pathways. He is calling each of us all the time, every day, every minute, every second. Know his voice, listen for his call. For as one little girl once paraphrased the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd and he is all I ever want.” Amen.