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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
The Book of Acts Bible Studies
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
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The 4TH Sunday of Easter (B) Text: John 10:11-18 May 3, 2009
Dear Tom and Ray ... Is there a part
in a car that has not evolved over time but continues to exist even
though we don't need it anymore? - Signed, Linda. Ray: Right. In the old, old days, when my brother still had a few brain cells left, cars were not that common. So when you parked yours at the side of the road, you left your "parking lights" on. That way, when Ichabod Crane came whizzing by in his buggy he wouldn't smash into you. Tom: But now that we all expect cars to be parked on every street, and we have reflectors to make them more visible, parking lights are hardly necessary (Click & Clack, "Auto Evolution," The Washington Post, May 8, 1998). Tom and Ray, the wisecracking "Car Talk" mechanics whose column appears each Saturday in the Billings Gazette newspaper, make a good point about the lack of evolution in cars - all vehicles still have parking lights, although the lights are practically useless. They are a "vestigial trait," a remnant of an earlier model that still exists, although it no longer performs a necessary function. The human body contains these traits as well: Think of the appendix, an organ that once had a job, but is now unemployed. The only time we become aware of the appendix is when it gets infected, and needs to be cut out. Otherwise, it just rides along in the abdomen, doing nothing, and we happily ignore it. Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is traditionally called “Good Shepherd” Sunday – and perhaps that imagery is also a “vestigial trait” of something that does not really apply anymore in our modern day society. Shepherding may still exist in America – especially here in Montana – but not in the way envisioned in the 23rd Psalm that we recited earlier in this service or in our gospel reading. In our modern economy, there may be sheep ranches – but the idea of a shepherd having a flock small enough so that he could get to know each of his sheep by name is something that probably belongs to the long distant past. And perhaps it is not only the literal imagery of a shepherd and his flock that is outdated, but also the concept of what it means as well. The “shepherding image” lifts up the idea of personal, intimate, and trusting relationships that develop over time as being very special and important. But today’s society by and large doesn’t seem to value those things as much as it used to. In today’s world, when we call a business we are much more likely to first encounter a voice mail rather than a real live human being who will take a real interest in us. We are often known not by name but by our social security or account number and a password that has been assigned to us. Today’s lifestyle in so many ways seems to be much more automated and fast-paced than it was in the past. The “shepherding imagery” also seems to be somewhat out of place in a world that often tends to emphasize BIGNESS rather than SMALLNESS. And this idea even often permeates the Church! In the minds of many, “Mega-churches” which have thousands of members and multiple services each week are held up as being models of success to be emulated. A large congregation pastor I used to know back in Ohio openly identified himself as being a RANCHER rather than a SHEPHERD. He saw himself as being a CEO of a large enterprise rather than as a servant-shepherd – and seemed to think that his was a higher calling. And perhaps many lay-people may like the idea of belonging to a church that is so big that they can be lost in the crowd and remain anonymous. Yes, in many ways it seems that the very concept represented by the Good Shepherd imagery in the 23rd Psalm and in today’s gospel reading is terribly outdated. We may talk about Jesus as our Good Shepherd on days like today, but do we really “buy into” what it means? For many people the shepherd/sheep imagery is just an old-fashioned “vestigial trait” of religion. But yet, this imagery of an intimate shepherd/sheep relationship still endures, and not just because it is in the Bible. It is something which expresses the deepest longings of our souls. Because deep down, we all want to feel that we are known and loved and cared for by Jesus. We don’t want a relationship with a “rancher” Jesus who is herding us around – we want a relationship with a “shepherd” Jesus who knows each of us personally, lovingly, and intimately. The theme song in the old television series “Cheers” put it this way; “We all need a place to go where everybody knows our name.” We need a place to go where we are not lost in the crowd. We need a place to go where we are valued as being unique individuals. That is what the Church – when it is truly being the Church – is all about! This understanding may often be “counter-cultural” in today’s society, but the “Good Shepherd” imagery – far from being a “vestigial trait” – actually forms the very essence of who and what we are as God’s people! The image of Jesus as our shepherd helps us to understand that we are never just a number with him. It helps us to know that we will never put on “voice-mail” hold when we need to talk with him. It helps us to understand that Jesus always has time for us and that we are very precious to him. And yes, this image also helps us to understand that we can perfectly trust Jesus to lead us through life knowing that he will always be with us take care of us, come what may. Knowing and believing that is what makes life abundant and full! Knowing and following Jesus as our shepherd – our GOOD SHEPHERD – is not just a “vestigial” tradition of our faith. It is the essence of who and what we are as Christians. Jesus knows us. Jesus loves us. Jesus will take care of us. Jesus calls each of us by name. We are part of Jesus’ flock, and we will be his forever! Thanks be to God for this wonderful gift – even in today’s world! Especially in today’s world! Happy “Good Shepherd” Sunday, everyone! Amen! -------------------- Pastor George Karres 418 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270
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