by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. v8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. v9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. v10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (Read: John 10:1-10)
We just transferred to our new house recently, the eleventh since my wife and I are married 33 years ago. This is common to us clergy since we are transferred from one assignment to another to answer a call. When we were putting up the framed rhinestones stitches done by wife, I insisted that the one called “The Good Shepherd” be on the entry way. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…” (Psalm 23:1-2). I am sure that most if not all are familiar with these words from the holy book and in some ways along the way seek solace and assurance from these verses. Psalm 23 which is also called Psalmist Shepherd has provided me comfort and assurance through the years in various assignments and transfers of residence. The psalm praises God for being a good Shepherd who provides, leads, and protects. Most Bible scholars understand the psalm as an individual psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from various life-threatening situations. The psalm is commonly used in the context of death and the funeral service.
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Throughout the Judeo-Christian faith, the image of the shepherd has been stamped upon our thinking. In our gospel text for this 4th Sunday of Easter Jesus again taps into this imagery when he refers to himself as the good shepherd. The good shepherd narrative presents three images: the sheep, the shepherd, and the sheep pen (door). As already mentioned in previous articles, sheep are innocent, living creatures that need protection and guidance in order to stay alive and hopefully lead a good life. The world is a dangerous place for sheep. Without protection their lives are in danger. There are thieves, hostile animals, and all sorts of danger out there. That is why it is necessary to build a sheep pen, to keep the sheep in and the dangers out.
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The sheep pen is not the end itself. Keeping the sheep alive is not the final objective. It is only the beginning. The goal is to give the sheep a good life. And for that you need a shepherd, a good one, to develop a relationship with the sheep. Jesus says that the good shepherd calls the sheep by name. the shepherd talks to them, sings to them, and leads them to green pastures. The sheep knows the shepherd’s voice. They trust the shepherd, and they will go wherever the shepherd leads them because there is a loving relationship between them. The sheep will, therefore, wait patiently in the sheep pen. It is worthwhile to stay alive and wait in that holding place because they know that sooner or later the shepherd’s life-giving voice will come. They know that when the shepherd comes, he will lead them to green pastures. They know that the shepherd will care for them and lead them to a good life.
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So it is with our relationship with God through Jesus. According to one preacher, ‘The good news comes to us by way of religion. It is what we human beings have built in order to transmit the message of the gospel. Religion, like the sheep pen, is necessary to protect the message of life. But it is not an end in itself. It is only the visible shell from which comes the voice of the good shepherd, and it is that voice that gives life. It is the voice that makes it worthwhile to relate to religion.’ (Isaac Kawuki-Mukasa) But let us be warned: Religion can be dangerous if it does not contain the truth. Jesus talks about the thief who climbs in through the window. We have seen cults that begin with truth and then veer off into misleading and sometimes dangerous territory. It is not religion that we should strive for. Rather, we should seek to hear the voice within. If it is the voice of a stranger, if it does not connect with us in love, if it violates our conscience or leads us to sin, then it is not the voice of the good shepherd, and our religion will not lead us to life. But if you hear and recognize the voice as the good shepherd’s voice, if you hear it calling you by name, then you will know that therein is truth. Listen to the voice within.
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Looking deeper to the good shepherd parable is the story of the personal love of Jesus Christ for every individual and of his willingness to lay down his life for us. This imagery should prompt us to make some response for such lavish generosity. As another theologian puts it, ‘If we claim to be part of his family, we should be eagerly following him with generosity and enthusiasm. The question for all of us to face is what return are we making as a response for his loving care. Life only comes meaningful when we live with Christ. Our surest road to safety is to be alert and ready to answer his invitation to come and follow.’ (D. Knowles). The compassion of Jesus comes to people through hearts that are full of tenderness and love. We need constant reminding that our calling is to be shepherds after the heart of God, making Christ’s presence effective in our communities, homes, and work places. This can be if we respond to the deepest needs of people around us. The sheep needs a good shepherd and secure sheep pen that only the loving God can provide.
Let us pray.
O Holy Shepherd, you who lead and care for all your sheep, we praise you. For your tender love, your patient teaching your sure protection, we give you thanks. When we stray, you guide us back to right paths, when we wander, you call our name and lure us home. O God, we give you thanks for times we have known your care. When we have been sustained in times of want; when we have been comforted in times of fear, when we have seen your gift of love, we give you thanks. And for the times you have watched over us without our knowing it, we are especially grateful.
Hear our prayer, O God, for those who especially need your care. For those who cannot find their way, we pray for your guidance. For those who this day hunger or need shelter, we pray for your protecting hand. For those who are pursued by enemies, we ask for relief. Equip us, O God, to offer your shelter, your protection, your care to those in need, to be shepherds to those who depend on us. These things we pray in the name of Christ, our shepherd and guide. Amen.**
