4 Easter SHEPHERD

Since the 14th Century two words have been used in the church to describe the priest responsible for a parish priest. Rector, from a root meaning "move in a straight line," referred to a "ruler," the one who directs people in a straight line is the ruler. The word "pastor" literally meant a shepherd but was applied to the work of a spiritual leader.

In Acts 4, we see the ongoing tragedy of the failures of the "rulers, elders and scribes" in Jerusalem, and the misrule of the high priestly family. Jesus Himself had confronted these men with their blindness and obtuseness. Now, after a very public healing miracle, Peter proclaims the resurrection of Jesus and the remarkable message, there is no other source of salvation than Jesus Christ. The shepherds failed to heed the prophetic call and in 70AD the temple and city were wiped off the map, for a second time. 

The human criteria of success, wealth  and power, are secondary for assessing Israel's rulers. Fidelity to the covenant with YHWH was central, and very  few kings were judged to  have done well in God's eyes.  

Ezekiel 34 contains the most intense judgements.  "You  feed yourselves and not the sheep." The Lord God declares, "I will seek out my sheep."  "I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." Jesus says, "I lay down my life for the sheep." Psalm 23 is a bridge, illustrating that in Jesus God enters the thick darkness of the shadow of death to save His sheep.

"The false shepherds flee the wolves," warns Jesus. These words stir up a sad memory from a decade ago, when a young man died from a drug over dose. At his funeral I said that many who claimed to be his friends were in fact wolves, and afterward another young man told me that I was right. I say to you, what I declared to them: Jesus, the real shepherd, is seeking and will find His lost sheep. This is good news for the sheep, but bad news for the wolves.

These are treacherous days. There is much new teaching. Are the rulers of church and state filled with the Holy Spirit and leading us in the ways of the Good Shepherd?  Or are they seeking power and control for themselves? Is God being glorified,  or is He being used? Are they feeding the flock of God or themselves? And what of us, you and I? Are we true shepherds serving the King, or hired hands who run when the going gets tough? 

The days are dark, but we fear no evil. For He is with us, and we constantly repent to make sure that we are with Him. It is the way of sheep. It is the way of shepherds. It is the way to God in Christ.

could never 

easter 6 Love, Obedience and Victory

 

Sixth Sunday Easter

Acts 10:44-48   Psalm 98   1 John 5:1-6   John 15:9-17

We are not in control, God is. Our preferences, our rules, our expectations are not always His. The apostles learned this over and over. They were amazed when the Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles. The did learn, and decades later 1 John declared that “everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God.” YHWH is not a Jewish tribal God. Jesus came for all humanity.

Does Acts 10 mean that “everyone is welcome” with no strings attached? Well, the story ends with these words, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance (metanoia) that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) So, yes, everyone is welcome, everyone is invited to the repentance leading to life.

In repentance we abide in Jesus and learn to love. For Jesus, love is more than a feeling of affection, or passionate desire, more than an emotional connection; love is obedience: “If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” A commandment is an order to perform a set action directed to an end goal. Love is submission to God’s will, whatever the cost. Love is Jesus on the cross.

When we say “Everyone is welcome!” and “Let us love one another,” we are inviting people to obey the commands of the Father. Jesus laid down His life for the sheep—and so we must also learn to love in this way.

It feels overwhelming, but 1 John says that our faith (literally our loyal trust) will win the victory over the world. We weak and fallible humans, who are born of God, are actually conquerors. How can this be? Acts 10 provides an answer—the Holy Spirit. God is with us in our daily efforts to “pray, work and study.” God helps us reach inwardly to one another and to reach out to others, especially those in need. The Holy Spirit guides our discernment—teaching us what God would have us do and who God would have us be. The Holy Spirit purifies our desire to live as Jesus lived. The Holy Spirit makes us what Jesus is, an obedient child of God. So, fear not, in Jesus Christ we will conquer the world!