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SERMONS

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 11, 2003

In Palestine during the time of Jesus, sheep were important. Many people worked as shepherds. Each shepherd had his flock, for which he was responsible. Every day he would lead the sheep to food and water. He would watch over them and ensure that no sheep wandered off. He would keep an eye out for predators.

As night approached he would lead them to a sheep fold. These sheep folds were enclosed areas that kept the sheep from wandering off and provided some protection from other animals. The shepherd would sleep in the fold with the sheep.

Several flocks would share a sheep fold. In the morning sheep from all the flocks would be mixed together. But the sheep could recognize their own shepherds' voices. Each shepherd would call his sheep, and they would follow him out for the day. They would not follow another shepherd, only the one whose voice they recognized.

What does all of this have to do with us? We, who call ourselves the people of God? Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.... I know my sheep and my own know me.... They will listen to my voice." Jesus says that he speaks to us. He says that we can hear him, if we will listen. Our master calls us and will lead us.

Then why do we have so much difficulty? Why is it so hard to follow him? Why are we so anxious and confused and afraid?

Jesus speaks to us, but he seldom yells. The voice of God is a still, small voice. And it can be difficult to hear in the bedlam of all the other voices that scream at us: the voice of fear saying that you are alone and helpless; the voice of materialism telling you that you can find security and happiness in possession; the voice of power saying that you can find security and happiness in control of others; the voice of responsibility saying that you can find security and happiness in a good reputation if you will only work harder; the voice of obligation saying that you must do this and this and this; the voice of despair saying that you are worthless, that the hope for security and happiness is nothing but smoke.

All of those voices, and so many more, screaming at us constantly. Pulling us in different directions. Leaving us confused and frightened and lost. And yet somewhere deep within there is another voice; still, small; so still and small that we can barely hear it. A voice saying, "I am the good shepherd. I know you, you are mine. I am with you and will never abandon you. I will watch over you; I will care for you; I will feed you with the food of life, and with living water; I will protect you from every evil. I love you. I created you. I delight in you."

Take the time to become quiet. Take the time to silence all those other voices. Take the time to listen for the voice of the true shepherd. The shepherd who is always with us. The shepherd who loves us; the shepherd who knows that nothing, no power in all creation, not even death, can take us from him.

David Christian
The Chapel of the Cross
Madison, Mississippi

Acts 4.23-37
1 John 3.1-8
John 10.11-16