Saturday, May 17, 2014

Sermon for Easter 4, Emmanuel

Some of you know that I recently got a dog.
So, of course, I will come up with some dog stories in my sermons.

My new dog is a two year old rescue dog,
            whom I have had for just two months now.
I named her Mercy for several reasons,
            and it fits her well.
We are getting to know each other,
            and both of us are learning such things as how to heel
                        and how to interact with other dogs.
And we have discovered the dog parks,
            where Mercy can race around with other dogs to her heart’s content.

Dog parks are fascinating places – all the different breeds of dogs,
            such gorgeous animals. 
I love just watching them all as they engage in their various dog games.

In particular I love to watch the border collies
            when their human goes to throw a ball for them.
Their herding instinct comes out.
            They crouch, then stealthily creep forward,
                        then race off to round up that ball before it escapes.

Keep this in mind.

We heard the words of Jesus in the Gospel reading for today:
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.”

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is a favorite for many.
How many stained glass windows have you seen
            that show Jesus gently carrying a lamb
            and being followed by a flock of sheep through a lovely pastoral scene?

Ah, this is the way we want Jesus to be:
            taking care of us, providing for us, as lovingly as a mother.
So, you know what I am going to say next –
            Good luck with that!
The Good Shepherd is but one view of Jesus,
            and Jesus was not always sweetness and kindness
                        with those whom he loved.
And, admit it, the most loving mother is one who does not hesitate to correct             and make you take a time out and hand you chores to do.

And the sheep don’t exist
            just to be led by still waters and graze in green pastures.
The sheep are a valuable commodity for the shepherd,
            first for their wool,
            and then some are going to end up on the dinner table,
                        their lives will be sacrificed,
and that has certainly happened with some of those who followed Jesus.
So let’s keep this Good Shepherd imagery reality based.

But you know, the image of this shepherding quality of Jesus
            has been extended to clergy as well.
Sometimes the clergy are called pastors, another term for shepherd.
And our bishops carry crosiers around with them –
            and you know what a crosier is?            a fancy shepherd’s crook.

I always see a problem with this image about clergy,
            for it sets us up
as being between the One who is the Good Shepherd and the sheep.

So we must not forget , and it is probably self evident,
that we clergy are also one of the critters, members of the flock.
It doesn’t take much of a reality check for most clergy to remember this.
There is only one Shepherd, only One who can say,
            I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

If we want to carry on with the imagery of sheep and Shepherd,
            then perhaps we should look at clergy
            in terms of what my Pastoral Theology professor in seminary suggested:
that clergy are like “sheep dogs.”
Clergy are to keep the flock together,
            check for strays, sneak up behind them, nip their heels,
            and herd them back into the flock,
            then keep the sheep moving so that they don’t wander off into danger,
                        or overgraze one place, always moving on to new pasture lands.
To extend the analogy,
            a good sermon then should be like nipping at the heels,
                        and move us into a new place of nourishment.
                       
But the point of all this is to help us all be clear
            that we are all fellow creatures together before our Creator.

Something that is very important to note in particular
about this biblical model of shepherding
is that in relationship to Jesus and his disciples
never did Jesus pick out one single, specially gifted disciple
to take over as the next, official shepherd of the flock,
not even Peter, if you read the texts carefully.

Peter wouldn’t have been a particularly logical choice anyway,
            given his track record.

Instead Jesus assured them – and us –
that he would never leave us without his presence,
never abandon us,
that he would continue to shepherd us.

And he entrusted his work to ALL of us:
            that is, the work of making disciples among all peoples,
                        and the ongoing care of the community of faith.

“Love one another,” he said.
This is the commandment for care within the faith community,
            and, of course, beyond the walls of the congregation.
Love one another.
            Have care and compassion for one another.
            Serve one another.

So actually and especially to be noted:
            The Good Shepherd calls all of the flock to share in the shepherding.

Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd,
            one who was willing to sacrifice his life for the lives of sheep;
                        in much the same way he referred to himself as a servant.
In Luke 22 Jesus said to his disciples,
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
But not so with you;
rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest,
and the leader like one who serves.
For who is greater,
the one who is at the table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one at the table?
But I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus is the Servant, the One who waits tables, the Deacon.

He is our example to be like him,
            each one of us, not just the clergy.

My dog Mercy has been teaching me about leadership,
            how in order to lead her and keep her from going astray
            I must speak her language.

In dog thought, most dogs don’t want to be the leader, the alpha dog.
            They would really feel more secure and less anxious
                        with the leader of the pack in charge.

So when I am clear and confident in my own actions,
            then Mercy has greater confidence and is more at ease.
If I am not doing my job of leading confidently and clearly
            then she thinks that she must pick up that job,
                        but doing it out of a place of anxiety and fear.
That’s when she gets into trouble,
            and when it comes down to it, it really is my fault.
So the best kind of caring leadership for her
            is for me to be alert to how SHE thinks
            and to serve her needs by my alertness.
The master serves…

Each of us is called to act with compassion and kindness,
to give our attention to others, especially those who are wandering off,
to take time to know others by name
and to be with each other
when times are particularly difficult or challenging,
            to help one another expediently when we get lost,
                        and at times when we become “black sheet,” so to speak,
all to keep the flock together as a community,
                                                following the voice of Jesus.

Peter, the unlikely shepherd, speaks to us all
in these words from the Epistle reading for today:
“For you were going astray like sheep,
but now you have returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”

There is only one Shepherd, and – here is the surprise –
he himself identifies with the sheep.
            The Lamb of God
Rev. 7:17             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.