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.
No comments:
Post a Comment