by Mary Jane Cole

Are any of you from places where there are sheep, sheepherders or shepherds? We didn’t have many of these in eastern Arkansas where I grew up.  It was mostly cotton, rice and soybean farming.  I might be able to tell you a little bit about riding on tractors and combines, but not much about sheepherding.  I did a little “sheepish” research this week as I was hoping to dispel one of the most popular myths about sheep – that they are not the brightest of animals.  Here’s what I learned about their behavior and intelligence: sheep are prey animals with a strong gregarious instinct meaning that they are sociable and prefer to live in flocks or community, and the majority of their behaviors are defined in those terms. They have a natural inclination to follow a leader. They have a tendency to congregate close to other members of a flock. Sheep are found to be just below pigs and on par with cattle in terms of IQ.  I don’t know if that is good or bad, but the good news is that sheep are actually known for having some problem solving abilities and some ability to recognize faces and differentiate emotional states through facial characteristics. If worked with patiently, it is thought that sheep may be able to learn names if given to them and be led by a halter or lease for showing purposes or I suppose if one wanted to have a sheep for a personal pet.[1] 

            Of course, sheep are a well known figure in religious symbolism.  Sheep, shepherd and flock references play a significant role in our faith and biblical stories.  They were the first animals mentioned in the Old Testament.  We have countless shepherd and lamb references to God and to Jesus.  Which leads us to today’s gospel text for Good Shepherd Sunday.  The opening verses of the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel are cryptic and a little confusing.  We may find ourselves stumbling over the metaphors.  Is Jesus the “shepherd” or as often referred to, “the good shepherd”, or is He the “gate”?  Are we the flock?  This confusion led me to throw up my hands and say, “Good Gosh O Mighty”, which way do we go? 

            This discourse grows out of the story of the man born blind from John chapter 9. The Jewish leaders responsible for the care of the people “agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus as Messiah would be put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22).  Their action does not seem characteristic of a shepherd, but of a thief who cares nothing for their sheep.

            I suggest that perhaps there is another metaphor for us in here somewhere. And that is that as people of faith, as disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, we are also called to be “the shepherd”. We sometimes refer to clergypersons and pastors as shepherds and the congregation as the flock. But, it is also true that everyone has opportunity to shepherd others in the community of faith. We have made this claim many times in our tradition and in this church that we are all in ministry together.  We, who follow and continue the ministry of Christ through the Holy Spirit, have this role of being a “shepherd” and a “gate” too. The gate is where people come in, go out and through which they have safe pasture.  How are we as a Christian community and a congregation fulfilling this role?  There is something deeply moving and reassuring about the shape of the Christian community that emerges from these images and metaphors in this passage. of John’s Gospel. It is a community founded on and held together by love of Christ and love for one another.

            We’ve been having many discussions as a church staff and in various committees here at First Church Little Rock about needs based evangelism, how to offer and provide programs for certain age groups and populations, how to reach out to our neighbors and communities, how to offer radical hospitality and love.  And the good news is that much of the time; we are doing or have begun doing those very things, doing them well and making positive impacts.  But there is always room for improvement and so much more to do for God’s kingdom. You will be hearing more about these efforts, one of which is a vision cast by our senior pastor of “neighborhood shepherding groups”.  These will be small groups in designated geographic areas where our congregation lives that we hope to develop and nurture in order to reach those church members and beyond who may not be involved in Sunday school or other groups within the church; so that when they have a need; they know a neighbor who will offer care and concern so they don’t fall through the cracks. They will have a support network.  We plan to call this program, “First Friends”.

            Friends, as people of faith in a community of faith it is so important that we love and care for our neighbors and for one another.  I know that many of you; many of us have been blessed by a network of groups, circles, classes, and friends that have walked along side us in the midst of crisis and also in times of joy.  You have shared and carried burdens for one another.  You have prayed together, cried together, laughed together. This is shepherding! 

            In our discussions, we have consistently received feedback recently about what this great church already does very well.  You know, we may never be a mega “Six Flags Over Jesus” church and we don’t think that is what we set out to be, but one thing that seems to have become a “branding” for First Church Little Rock is that this congregation and this church conveys a “warmth”; a “warm, caring and welcoming environment”.  That is something that you should all pat yourselves on the back for because it is each and every one of you that makes this so.  A visitor to our church just last week sent an email to the church office. I want to share it with you.

Dear Reverend Mike, I wanted to tell you just how wonderful it was to pray with you and your congregation last Sunday. I was the “stranger” who was visiting Little Rock for a convention, but I certainly never felt like a stranger. You and your congregants opened your hearts to me and made my brief stay in Little Rock one which will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Less than a year ago I was a pilgrim on the Walk to Emmaus here in northeast Louisiana, so when the gospel verses about the original walk were read it reignited the flames of God’s love for us that burned so brightly for me when I made my walk. Then, surrounded by the warmth and fervent prayers of the faithful in your church, I was transformed once again. I left your services on a cloud of God’s grace that is still with me to this moment.

Especially, I want to thank the members of the Sunday School class who invited me into their class, shared their delicious fruitcake and coffee, and taught me about Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. I remember in particular, the gentleman who had recently lost his lifelong companion in marriage, and a lady named Alice, whose hearing was failing, but whose faith was strong. I don’t remember the names of the couple who invited me into their class that morning, but I remember their faces well. I remember their smiles.

My pastor asked me to get some good ideas while I was worshiping, and I certainly did. I will be bringing a proposal to my church for a block party as soon as possible. What a wonderful way to share the love.

And finally, I want to thank some lady named Hope. I sat behind her during the 11 o’clock service and I heard somebody speak to her and call her by name. Quietly she prayed and sang and when she was joined by a loved one, I felt by osmosis, the love of a family member. After the service I spoke to her and asked her if I had heard correctly that her name was Hope, and she smiled at me and said that it was. What blessing she has in that name, for her smile portrayed hope to me.

For the next few days and even now I have been filled with hope. I am sure she did not know it, but your Hope was a human reflection of your congregation and our faith for me that morning. When all is said and done, it is that which Jesus gave us at its simplest and best. He gave us the right to hope. He justified our hope.   

As I walked back to my hotel I felt a great joy answering many questions about my life that I will take strength from again and again. I walked convinced of God’s plan for me, of his love for me and I was filled with hope. I knew as I had never known before, that God was going to fill my life with love, that He had plans for me, and was even that moment preparing for me a spiritual feast beyond my comprehension.

 Amen and thanks, Greg Nelson.

            This is shepherding and also this is “being the gate”.  You offered warmth, love, and safe pasture for a fellow traveler on the Christian journey. And you know what else?  The shepherd in these verses in John’s Gospel today, leads the sheep out rather than just providing a way for them to come into the safety of the sheep hold.  Where does the shepherd lead the sheep out to? Where does Jesus lead the church out to? 

            Once we decide we need to be aware as Christian disciples of what’s happening around us; of being aware of the stranger in our midst, then we have entered into a whole new realm of awareness. And that awareness generates authentic love and faith which means we are compelled to stand up for the last, the least and the lost, for one another and for our neighbors.

We are the ones who have been loved and cared for by the Good Shepherd. We have been watched over, provided for, carried through rough times.  We are the beloved, those for whom Jesus laid down his life. And Jesus invites those who have been so loved to shepherd others, to love as we have been loved, not in word and speech, but in truth and action. We are called to those who are vulnerable; those who like real sheep, may sometimes do stupid things, those who are stragglers, those who are hurt, and any who need help. We are called to stay with them, to carry them, to encourage them on their way.

That is the kind of life Jesus lives for and with us.  Jesus journeys with the most vulnerable, and takes on their vulnerability.  Jesus journeys with the stranger; with those who have no network or group or circle. He knows what its like to be out in the cold.  He knows what he’s saying when he calls people to leave their comfort zones since he did the same himself.  And He knows something else too: this risky life he lived, and calls us to live is abundant life.  It’s THE abundant life, to be precise. (For First Word: And when we live in such a way, we honor the One who is our Good Shepherd, we honor the One who leads us beside still waters and restores our soul, the One who leads us on right paths, the One whose rod and staff comfort us so that we fear no evil, the One who prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies, the One who anoints us so that our cup overflows. The Lord is our Shepherd and invites us to shepherd others in order that goodness and mercy might follow us all the days of our life so that we all might dwell in the house of the Lord forever).

 Let us always be that place of safety, warmth and comfort where all may know the joy and love of life to its fullest. 

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.  IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.