May 11, 2025 "Good Shepherd"

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:36-43

Psalm 23

Revelation 7:9-17

John 10:22-30

Dear fellow ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ,

grace and peace to you from our good shepherd. Amen

I must admit that this week,

along with millions of others,

 I watched in fascination

 as the Roman Catholic Church

 selected their next leader.

Whatever else you might think of the proceedings

it was a good spectacle

 complete with secrecy, suspense,

 outrageous costumes, different colored smoke

 and centuries of tradition

culminating in a balcony reveal.

Once the white smoke indicating a new pope had been selected went up

I tuned into several news outlets

with their live coverage

as they waited along with the rest of the world

 to see who would step out onto that balcony,

but of course when you’re on live tv

you can’t just let the camera sit there

you have to have conversation and commentary,

 and it was interesting to hear how the reporters and commentators filled that time,

what name would the new pope choose?

What would that say about how he intended to be pope?

 What would he choose to wear for his first appearance?

What would that say about how he intended to be pope?

 especially in light of what happened the last time with Pope Francis

and how the choices that Francis had made

 were later reflected in his way of being Pope,

 Francis who eschewed any of the ornate vestments

 including those special red shoes,

appeared simply in white,

 setting the tone for a style of leadership

that strove for simple service among the people,

who was even heard to remark something like

 “a shepherd must smell like their sheep”

in other words a pastor must be among their people to care for them. 

Listening to all of this,

 it struck me afresh

 just how much the analysts and commentators

were focused on the actions as the indicators of character.

 Yes, Pope Francis said a lot of things

but it was his actions that were remembered the most,

and in the waiting the speculation wasn’t on what the first words of the new pope would be

 but what he would do.

The old aphorism is of course that “actions speak louder than words”

 something that even Jesus acknowledges in our gospel for today.

Some people are gathered around Jesus

 “and said to him, ‘how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;”

I have told you Jesus tells them

and since that hasn’t sunk it,

 look at what I’ve done,

what I do,

that should show you who I am,

and then he says something which can sound a bit harsh,

 exclusionary even  he says

“but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.”

Now I don’t think that this is a reflection of Jesus’ willingness

to have them be a part of his flock,

 but rather an acknowledgement

that they have not placed their trust in him,

and since that is the case

they don’t fully listen to what he tells them,

he has told them he is the messiah,

he has lived it out

and yet they continue to ask him about it.

 On the other hand

Jesus’ sheep are those who trust him,

 and so they listen to him and follow him,

and why do they trust him and listen to him?

 because they have a relationship with Jesus,

they know Jesus

and Jesus knows them,

and when someone knows us

 and not just our name but who we are,

who has demonstrated care for us,

 well then, then we will listen closely to what they say

even if it is as outrageous as claiming to be one with the Father.

 This might sound like an over-the-top claim,

but then look at what he has done,

the feeding, the healing, the calming of storms,

 even the calling of disciples.

 Jesus’ actions live out the truth of what he says.

We listen yes,

and we look for the actions.

The Lord is my shepherd proclaims the psalmist,

why?

 Look at how the psalmist describes the actions of the Lord

 offering rest, sustenance, restoration, guidance, comfort, hospitality.

The Lord is their shepherd because the Lord acts as a shepherd.

“Who are these, robed in white?”

the elder asks John in Revelation

then tells him “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb…the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life…”

 look to the actions

 Jesus, the lamb, has already given himself as a sacrifice for the world

 and there is redemption and eternal life in him.

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand, The Father and I are one.” Jesus tells those gathered around him,

 as he heads toward Jerusalem

to offer his life for the sake of the world,

 look to the actions.

Jesus is the good shepherd because he acts like it,

 he smells like his sheep,

 and we follow because we have experienced the care of the shepherd,

we know that it is not an empty promise

 but a promise that is full and never ending.

And this frees us to live sharing with others

 the same rest, sustenance, restoration, hospitality we first experienced,

so that others might experience it as well

 and begin to listen when they hear the voice of the shepherd. 

What we do matters,

the choices we make reflect our belief,

it doesn’t matter if we say we’re welcoming

if our actions don’t reflect that,

 if we say we are committed to connecting with God, one another, and our neighbors

 and serving with love and compassion

 well then those who encounter us

 should be able to see that without the words needing to be said.

 And while we will never be perfect,

 because nothing in this life is perfect,

 I think we are well on our way to living loudly with our actions.

Today we are commemorating the 25th anniversary

 of the latest expansion of this building,

 the congregation of 25 years ago

 acted on their faith

 that God was calling them to continue in this place,

and today we see the fruits of that faith

 in the many ways in which this space is used for the glory of God

 and the good of community

and as we look to the future

we trust that God will continue to lead us,

 to green pastures yes,

but also through the difficult valleys

 and because we know the love and voice of the one who leads

 we will go,

 following Jesus our good shepherd. Amen