Acts 9:36-43; John 10:22-30
A few years ago, someone asked me what I liked
most about preaching. I replied: working with a good story. This year, the
stories from Acts are wonderful material for preaching. And they mix really
well with the stories from the Gospel of John.
Since I didn’t get to preach last week because
of the flu, I want to use those readings as well. The ongoing theme is
shepherds and sheep, and followers of Jesus, whom we can think of as sheep and
shepherds.
Last week, Jesus spoke with Peter, asking him to feed Jesus’ sheep. Three
times, Jesus asks Peter to care for the sheep who follow Jesus. Peter is
stunned by the repetition of the question, Do you love me? Yet, by the third
time, Peter begins to understand that Jesus loves him. And Peter’s reply goes beyond
the automatic “sure, I love you,” to something much deeper. Peter loves Jesus
from the depths of his being. He is now ready to love the way Jesus loves.
An interpretation I like of this conversation is that Jesus is naming
Peter as the new shepherd, called to lead the people/sheep. As Peter has been a
sheep following Jesus, he is now also to be a shepherd leading the sheep.
This week, Jesus is interrogated by the Jewish leaders: tell us, Jesus.
Are you the messiah, or not?! Jesus refuses to say. Instead he speaks of sheep
who know the voice of the shepherd. If you are not in Jesus’ flock, you don’t
know him. And, especially, you don’t know that Jesus and the Father are one –
Jesus is God and God is Jesus. If you are part of the flock, you are blessed,
indeed.
Last week’s reading from Acts told part of the story of Paul’s life-changing
encounter with the risen Jesus. For many years, he has been persecuting those
who believe in Jesus. After his encounter with Jesus he becomes a believer, and
is both sheep and shepherd as he follows where Jesus and the Holy Spirit lead
him. Ananias, it’s his home Paul is taken to, is also changed, and led to trust
God’s plan to use Paul to reach many people.
In this week’s reading we meet a shepherd/sheep named Tabitha and
Dorcas. Her name in English is Gazelle.
It also means beauty and grace. It seems she has used her own funds to purchase
cloth and make clothing for the widows. She has given of her wealth to care for
the sheep in her town, and as a shepherd led them to know Jesus better.
In the story, the widows are in tears, grieving, because Tabitha has
died. For some reason, they have sent for Peter, who happens to be in a nearby
town. Maybe he knows Tabitha, maybe he even was the first to tell her about
Jesus. The scene in the room is tender, as the widows show Peter the kinds of
things Tabitha made for them. Peter understands the need these sheep have of
their shepherd Tabitha. He asks the women to leave the room, and just as Jesus
had done, so Peter too raises Tabitha from death.
Peter and Paul and Tabitha are both shepherd and sheep. They are sheep,
doing everything they can to follow Jesus the Good Shepherd, and live in his
self-sacrificing way. They are also shepherd, leading the flock of believers
under their care.
Every one of us is both sheep and shepherd, even if we don’t think of
ourselves that way. We do our best as sheep to follow our Good Shepherd, to
love as he loves. In following Jesus we are also shepherds. We lead others, officially,
as the members of Council and as worship leaders, and so forth.
We also lead others by example. When we take time to worship and study,
we demonstrate to others the value of spending time with Jesus. When we make
quilts and mow the lawn, we demonstrate using our gifts and interests to serve
Jesus. We are shepherds and sheep at the same time.
This week, I have been thinking about Helga. Helga was always busy doing
something for her family and for church. She was an active member of Martha
Circle, constantly making little things to decorate the tables for a party,
making items to put in shoe boxes, and things to sell at rummage sales. And she
was constantly making quilts.
I remember her ready smile, a warm greeting for everyone, and her
determination to be here at worship if at all possible. She may have been more
sheep than shepherd in her activity, but she has also been shepherd, because we
still remember her devotion to Jesus, and to her family and to Hope. She is a
role model for all of us, a shepherd to follow.
Scott Darling is the backup goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks. A little
story about him has become big news. One day, an Uber driver (a kind of taxi
driver, in case you don’t know) gave a ride to Scott and another man.
"I knew nothing
about hockey until I gave Scott Darling a ride. He changed my life. When I
picked him up he had a man with him. A man who had been through some really
trying times and Scott just so happened to see him on the street and strike up
a conversation. So he had me drive this guy to a hotel and he paid for
him to stay at that hotel for an entire month until he got back on his feet,
and even got him some groceries. I've
never met anyone in my life who was so sincere. I later Googled him, found out
who he was and now I think hockey is the greatest sport in the world."
President Obama heard the story and highlighted it when the Blackhawks
were in the White House for a celebration of winning the Stanley Cup. So, now
the story of a hockey player doing a Good Samaritan deed has been spreading. At
first, Scott was just a sheep, following the Shepherd, Jesus, and now, because
the story is spreading, he is also a shepherd, teaching others by example how
to follow.
We usually just live each day, thinking about what we have to do that day,
and try to be a sheep, following the Good Shepherd. But others are paying
attention to us, and we become shepherds, whether we intend to be or not. Pay
attention this week to your sheep-ness. How do you follow the Good Shepherd? In
what ways are you the shepherd others follow?
Please pray with me. Good Shepherd, lead us in right pathways. Teach us
to follow you as obedient sheep. Send us other shepherds to show us the way. And
help us be good shepherds, leading those who are searching for you into your
fold. In your name, we pray. Amen
