1) Pope John Paul II,
the good shepherd.
The most beautiful and meaningful comment on the life and
the legacy of Pope John Paul II was made by the famous televangelist Billy
Graham. In a TV Interview he said: “He lived like his Master the Good Shepherd
and he died like his Master the Good Shepherd.” In today’s gospel, Jesus claims
that he is the Good Shepherd and explains what he does for his sheep.
2) A good shepherd
and the Ku Klux Klan:
On June 22, 1996 at Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Ku Klux Klan
held a rally at the City Hall. They had a permit for the event, it was
advertised in advance, and more than 300 demonstrators appeared to protest the
rally. One Klansman, who was wearing clothes displaying the Confederate flag,
was attacked by a swarm of demonstrators and pushed to the ground. Appalled, an
18-year-old African-American girl named Keisha Thomas threw herself over the
fallen man, shielding him with her own body from the kicks and punches. Keisha,
when asked why she, a black teenager, would risk injury to protect a man who
was a white supremacist, said, “He’s still somebody’s child. I don’t want
people to remember my name but I’d like them to remember I did the right
thing.”
3) A good
shepherd-sergeant’s story:
There was once a sergeant in the Marines who was the senior
enlisted man in his platoon. One day his outfit was ambushed and pinned down by
enemy fire. The lieutenant in command was badly wounded as were many of the
men. The sergeant took over and extricated the men from the trap, though he
himself was wounded twice. He carried out the wounded commanding officer by
himself. Miraculously every man in the platoon survived, even the wounded
lieutenant. Later the men said that if it were not for the incredible bravery
of the sergeant they all would have been killed. He was recommended for the
Medal of Honor, but received the DFC. He never wore the medal, however, because
he said the lives of his men were more important than any medal. Later when he
had children of his own, he loved them almost like a mother. His wife said that
during the war he had learned how to be tender.
4) Good shepherd and
the terrorists:
In the film The Delta Force there is the beautiful picture
of a good shepherd presented by a Catholic priest. A jet plane with American
tourists is hijacked by Arab terrorists and later the tourists are held hostage
in the plane which was landed by force in Beirut. At the beginning of the
tragedy, the two Arab terrorists aboard the jetliner begin to separate the few
Jewish tourists from the rest of the hostages. One of the most moving moments
of the film is when Fr. William O’Malley, a priest from Chicago played by
George Kennedy, gets up from his seat and walks into the First Class
compartment where the Jews are being held. The priest courageously walks into
the compartment where he is disdainfully met by the leading terrorist. The
terrorist asks what his name is and the priest responds that his name is
William O’Malley. Perplexed by the situation, the terrorist asks what the
priest wants. He responds that since he is a Catholic priest and a follower of
Jesus Christ, a Jew, he too is Jewish. “If you take one, you have to take us
all”, answers the priest who willingly accompanies the Jewish hostages. At the
end of the story we find Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris lead an elite team of U.S.
Special Forces that rescues the endangered travelers.
Additional Anecdotes:
1) "May I see
your driver's license?"
Everyone, it seems, is interested in my numbers. I go to the
grocery store to buy some groceries. After the checkout woman rings up my bill,
I pull out my check book and write out the check. She takes it from me. She
looks at the information. Numbers tell her where I live. Numbers tell her how
to reach me on the telephone. "Is this information correct?" she
asks.” Yes, it is," I reply. "May I see your driver's license?" she
asks. She looks at my driver's license and writes some more numbers on my
check. Finally, I am approved. The numbers are all there. I can eat for another
week. One could wish it were a bit more human and personal. So the IRS knows me
by my tax number. My state knows me by my driver's license number. My bank
knows me by my bank account number. My employer knows me by my social security
number. On and on it goes for you, for me, for everybody. Everybody knows my
numbers. I am not sure that anyone knows me! The numbers game that is played in
our culture is one symptom of loneliness and alienation that surrounds us
today. "All the lonely people, where do they all come from?" That is
a line from an early song by the Beatles. Loneliness. Isolation. Alienation.
These are the realities of contemporary civilized life. "I am the good
shepherd." These are Jesus' words in our reading from John's gospel text
for this sermon. "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me
..." Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus knows us personally and loves us.
2) Jesus knows his
sheep by name:
There have always been people with a good memory for names:
Napoleon, "who knew thousands of his soldiers by name . . .” or James A.
Farley, "who claimed he knew 50,000 people by their first name . . .” or
Charles Schwab, "who knew the names of all 8,000 of his employees at Home stead
Mill . . .” or Charles W. Eliot, "who, during his forty years as president
of Harvard, earned the reputation of knowing all the students by name each
year. . .” or Harry Lorayne, "who used to amaze his audiences by being
introduced to hundreds of people, one after another, then giving the name of
any person who stood up and requested it.” But can you imagine Christ knowing
all his sheep by name? That's millions and millions of people over 2,000 years.
No wonder we call him Master, Lord, Savior – watching over his flock, calling
each by name.
3) “I only know them
by name."
Tony Campolo loves to tell the story of a particular census taker
who went to the home of a rather poor family in the mountains of West Virginia
to gather information. He asked the mother how many dependents she had. She
began, "Well, there is Rosie, and Billy, and Lewella, Susie, Harry, and
Jeffrey. There's Johnny, and Harvey, and our dog, Willie. "It was then
that the census taker interrupted her aid said: "No, ma'am, that's not
necessary. I only need the humans." "Ah," she said. "Well,
there is Rosie, and Billy, and Lewella, Susie, Harry, and Jeffrey, Johnny, and
Harvey, and...." But there once again, the census taker interrupted her.
Slightly exasperated, he said, "No, ma'am, you don't seem to understand. I
don't need their names, I just need the numbers." To which the old woman
replied, "But I don't know them by numbers. I only know them by
name." In today’s gospel Jesus the good shepherd says that he knows his
sheep by name.
4) “I'd like to
preserve my integrity and credibility."
About 4 years ago, Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas
Mavericks, offered WGN Chicago Radio sports-talk host David Kaplan$50,000 to
change his name legally to "Dallas Maverick." When Kaplan politely
declined, Cuban sweetened the offer. Cuban would pay Kaplan $100,000and donate
$100,000 to Kaplan's favorite charity if he took the name for one year. After
some soul searching, and being bombarded by e-mails from listeners who said he
was crazy to turn down the money, Kaplan held firm and told Cubanno. Kaplan
explained: "I'd be saying I'd do anything for money, and that bothers me.
My name is my birthright. I'd like to preserve my integrity and credibility."
Skip Bayless, Chicago Tribune (1/10/01), Leadership Summer2001). The name
"Christian" is our birthright. From the moment of our baptism and our
birth into the Kingdom of God, we are the sheep of the Good Shepherd who
promises to lead us to green pastures and beside the still waters. The Voice of
the Shepherd protects us.
5) His master’s
voice:
Have you ever seen the painting done in the 1930s of a dog,
looking with a cocked head, at an old gramophone? The name of the painting is
His Master's Voice, and it's a symbol of what Jesus is saying to us. "The
sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them
out."
6) “I know the psalm.
The pastor knows the Shepherd.” A famous actor was the guest
of honor at a social gathering. As people gathered around, they asked the actor
to recite excerpts from various literary works. He obliged and did so
brilliantly. Finally, an elderly pastor asked the actor to recite the 23rd Psalm.
The actor hesitated at first and then agreed on one condition. The pastor would
return the favor. The actor’s recitation was brilliant and eloquent. People
responded to the actor with lengthy applause. The pastor’s rendition was feeble
and frail. But when the pastor finished, there was not a dry eye in the house.
Finally, the actor broke the silence with these words: “I know the psalm. The
pastor knows the Shepherd.” “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Do you
know the Shepherd? Have you found Him to be good? Have you discovered He is all
you need?
7) “Then we FLEECE
them!”
Two television evangelists were talking. One was explaining
how he was seeking to be the ideal shepherd to his television flock. “There are
three ways I seek to do that,” he said. “What three ways do you mean?” asked
the other evangelist. “Well” he explained, “First, we FIND them. Every year we
find new stations to carry our ministry. Then we FEED them. I give them the
plain unvarnished word of God.” “But what’s he third thing?” asked the second
evangelist. “Well,” he answered, “Once we’ve found them and fed them, then we
FLEECE them!” Some TV evangelists have become quite proficient at fleecing
their flock. I hope you understand that nothing could be farther from the
example of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep . . .” Fleecing the flock is a long way from laying
down your life for them.
8) “But I never
jumped.”
A paratrooper who had recently resigned from the military
was asked how many times he had jumped out of an airplane. He said, “None.” A
friend of his asked, “What do you mean, ‘none,’ I thought you were a
paratrooper?” He said, “I was, but I never jumped. I was pushed several times .
. . but I never jumped.” The hired hand never jumps. He has to be pushed.
Churches often have hired hands in them. Not our church, of course. But other
churches are full of people who have to be pushed to do what they know they
ought to do. Jesus did not have to be pushed.
9) “I give my life
for my sheep”:
We applaud when a man or woman gives his or her life for
another. Such instances do come along from time to time. Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. May 28, 1989: "Former NFL football player Jerry Anderson,"
read the newspaper account, "died Saturday after pulling two young boys
out of a rain-swollen river about 40 miles southeast of Nashville. Witnesses
said Anderson saw two boys, thought to be 11 or 12 years old, attempting to
cross a dam spanning the river. One or both boys fell into the water. According
to Officer Bill Todd, ‘Mr. Anderson jumped in the water and managed to get the
little boys out, but witnesses said he went under two or three times and about
the fourth time, he didn't come back up.’" He gave his life to rescue two
small boys.
Of course, you don't
have to be an American or a football player for such heroic actions. In a
Middle school in the Ukrainian village of Ivanichi a young teacher died
sometime back. He absorbed the blast of a hand grenade to protect his pupils.
What was a grenade doing in a middle school? According to the London Times, the
teacher, a graduate of the KGB border guard college, had been delivering the
military instruction that is a compulsory part of the curriculum for Soviet children.
He was teaching them how to handle what should have been an unarmed grenade.
When he pulled the pin a wisp of smoke showed that a live grenade had become
mixed in with demonstration grenades, and he gave his life.
You don't have to be a man to perform such heroics. Many
years ago a woman carrying a baby through the hills of South Wales, England,
was overtaken by a blizzard. Searchers found her later frozen to death in the
snow. Amazed that she had on no outer garments, they searched further and found
her baby. She had wrapped them around the child, who was still alive and well.
He grew up to be David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Great Britain in
World War I.
10) Big Brother is
watching us:
Ever since 1984 hit the bookstores, people concerned about
individual privacy and freedom have looked for signs that Big Brother is
becoming a reality in our society. And it is true that more and more of our
urban landscape is being observed by security cameras. But that is only one way
our privacy is being invaded. There was a news report several years ago that
Israeli scientists are now marketing a microchip that, implanted under the
skin, will protect film stars and millionaires from kidnappers. The chip emits
a signal detectable by satellite to help rescuers determine a victim’s
approximate location. Originally the chip was developed to track Israeli
secret-service agents abroad. The $5,000 chip doesn’t even require batteries.
It runs solely on the neurophysiological energy generated within the human
body. The firm which developed it, Genetics, won’t reveal where the chip is
inserted but said that, at that time, 43 people had had it implanted. Since
this report was published there has been an explosion of interest in this
technology. Farmers keep tabs on the health and safety of their cows and other
livestock with such hips. But the use of such devices to monitor human beings
is almost limitless. Already there is a monitoring bracelet for Alzheimer
patients, so that families can use GPS systems to help find loved ones who
might have wandered off. Would it be inconceivable that loving parents might
want to monitor the whereabouts of their children via satellite? Why not have a
chip implanted. Pet owners are already using such technology. Some cynics have
suggested that some wives might want to monitor their husbands. Soon we will
see signs, “Big Brother is watching.” Here’s what’s amusing to me. There are
people who have no difficulty believing that one day the government will keep
track of us all, but who cannot conceive that an all-knowing God can take a
personal interest in each of His children, hear each of our prayers, and be
responsive to each of our individual needs.
11) Images are highly
influential.
They become emblazoned on the wall of our minds, and they
evoke a wide range of responses. Millions of people will remember the fireman
carrying the baby out of the ruins of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma
City. World War II veterans, particularly the ones who served in the South
Pacific, will always remember Mount Surabachi and the Marines who raised an
American flag at its summit, as well as the image of General MacArthur returning
to the Philippines. Neil Armstrong taking that first step on the moon in the
early '70s is frozen in many memories, too. If you were old enough to watch and
understand television in l963, you probably remember young John F. Kennedy,
Jr., at the casket of his father Jack. Much closer to our own time, many of us
will long retain the image of students running out of Columbine High School
with their hands over their heads. Some images are immensely powerful and have
a tenacity that is tireless and timeless. If there is one image associated with
the Christian faith which, more than any other, has found an enduring place
within the collective life of the Christian church, it is the image of Jesus as
the good shepherd.
12) Hannah and Her
Sisters.
A recent movie by Woody Allen was titled, Hannah and Her
Sisters. The movie deals precisely with that theme. It is about Hannah and her
sisters and how family life gives some sense of stability to life in a
fractured world. The part played by Woody Allen in the movie is the part of a
man who is constantly afraid that he will get some terrible disease. He is what
we call a hypochondriac. As he comes into the movie, we see him on his way to
the doctor. The doctor assures him that nothing seems to be terribly wrong,
though some additional tests need to be made. Woody cannot calm himself over
these additional tests. He is sure they will find something terrible.
"What are you afraid of," one of his friends asks him,
"cancer?"" Don't say that," Woody responds with a look of
terror. More tests are performed. A cat scan is prescribed for his head. He is
sure they will find a brain tumor. But his fears are unfounded. The doctor
announces to him that all is well. In the next scene we see Woody coming out of
the hospital, kicking up his heels, and running joyfully down the street. He is
celebrating. But suddenly he stops. We know instinctively why he stops. He tells
us in the next scene. "All this means," he says, "is that I am
all right this time. Next time it will probably be serious.” Our lives are
lived in constant danger. Woody Allen's character overplays the danger. But the
danger is there. There are all kinds of realities that imperil our lives nearly
every day. Accidents might befall us. Natural disasters strike. Oppressive
structures of life weigh us down. Disease stalks us and death awaits. That is
the way life is. We live our lives in constant peril. Woody Allen might have
exaggerated a bit, but he is right. Human life is an endangered species. Death
calls a halt to every human life. "I am the good shepherd," Jesus
says. "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
13) The Bismarck:
In the beginning of World War II, the Nazis commissioned a
massive battleship named the Bismarck. It was the biggest fighting vessel the world
had seen up to that time. With the Bismarck the Germans had the opportunity to
dominate the seas. Very soon after it was commissioned, the Bismarck sank tons
of Allied shipping and allied aircraft. Its massive armor plating resulted in
the boast that the Bismarck was unsinkable. But the Bismarck was sunk. And it
was sunk due to one lone torpedo. A torpedo hit the Bismarck in the rudder. As
a result the battleship zig-zagged through the sea, unable to reach harbor. It
was only a short while before the British navy was able to overtake and destroy
it. No matter how large the battleship may be, it is doomed without a rudder to
direct it. Floundering on the waters of chaos without a rudder, the Bismarck is
a modern-day image of a world without the direction of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
Without the Lord, the world is headed toward chaos. But with the Lord there is
guidance, direction and purpose in life.
14) Alexander, the
shepherd of soldiers.
When the emperor Alexander the Great was crossing the Makran
Desert on his way to Persia, his army ran out of water. The soldiers were dying
of thirst as they advanced under the burning sun. A couple of Alexander's
lieutenants managed to capture some water from a passing caravan. They brought
some to him in a helmet. He asked, "Is there enough for both me and my men?"
"Only you, sir," they replied. Alexander then lifted up the helmet as
the soldiers watched. Instead of drinking, he tipped it over and poured the
water on the ground. The men let up a great shout of admiration. They knew
their general would not allow them to suffer anything he was unwilling to
suffer himself.
15) “It will kill you
if you move.”
A soldier dying on a Korean battle field asked for a priest.
The Medic could not find one. A wounded man lying nearby heard the request and
said, “I am a priest.” The Medic turned to the speaker and saw his condition,
which was as bad as that of the other. “It will kill you if you move,” he
warned. But the wounded chaplain replied. “The life of a man’s soul is worth
more than a few hours of my life.” He then crawled to the dying soldier, heard
his confession, gave him absolution and the two died hand in hand.
16) Four clergymen,
taking a short break from their heavy schedules, were on a
park bench, chatting and enjoying an early spring day. “You know, since all of
us are such good friends,” said one, “this might be a good time to discuss
personal problems.” They all agreed. “Well, I would like to share with you the
fact that I drink to excess,” said one. There was a gasp from the other three.
Then another spoke up. “Since you were so honest, I’d like to say that my big
problem is gambling. It’s terrible, I know, but I can’t quit. I’ve even been
tempted to take money from the collection plate.” Another gasp was heard, and
the third clergyman spoke. “I’m really troubled, brothers, because I’m growing
fond of a woman in my church — a married woman.” More gasps. But the fourth
remained silent. After a few minutes the others coaxed him to open up. “The
fact is,” he said, “I just don’t know how to tell you about my problem.” “It’s
all right, brother. Your secret is safe with us,” said the others. “Well, it’s
this way,” he said. “You see, I’m an incurable gossip.” Jokes like this have
shaped our views of priests as if there is no difference between the life and
work of a priest and that of other Christians. Today’s gospel tells us that
priests are expected to be Good Shepherds as the picture given by Jesus. (Fr.
Munacci).
17) Who is Your
Shepherd?
The TV is my shepherd I shall not want,
It makes me to lie
down on the sofa.It leads me away from the faith,
It destroys my soul.
It leads me to the path of sex and violence for the advertiser’s sake.
Even though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities,
There will be no interruption, for the TV is with me.
Its cable and remote control, they comfort me
It prepares a commercial for me in the midst of my worldliness
And anoints my head with secular humanism and consumerism.
My covetousness runs over;
Surely ignorance and laziness shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of wretchedness watching TV forever.
(Broadcasted on EWTN on March 18 2002)
18) A man comes upon
a shepherd guarding his flock, and proposes a wager:
"I will bet you
$100, against one of your sheep, that I can tell you the exact number in this
flock," the man says. The shepherd accepts. "973," says the man.
The shepherd, astonished at the accuracy, says "I'm a man of my word; take
the sheep you have won." The man picks a ‘sheep’ and begins to walk away.
"Wait," cries the shepherd, "Let me have a chance to get even.
Double or nothing that I can guess your exact occupation.” "Sure," replies
the man. "You work for the Tax Bureau," says the shepherd.
"Amazing!" responds the man, "How did you deduce that?”
"Well," says the shepherd, "if you will first putdown my dog, I
will tell you."
19) Q. How do you make God smile? Tell Him your plans! (Sent
by Fr. Brian)
20) It's been said that every pastor ought to have six weeks
of vacation each year, because if he is a real good shepherd, he deserves it;
and if he is not a very good shepherd, his congregation deserves it.
********
From Sermons.com
John 10:11-18 - "The Good Shepherd"
1 John 3:16-24 - "Candidates for God's Candid
Camera" by Leonard Sweet
It is small wonder that the image of the shepherd was
frequently upon the lips of the savior. It was a part of his heritage and
culture. Abraham, the father of the nation, was the keeper of great flocks.
Moses was tending the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, when God called him
into a special service. David was a shepherd boy called in from the fields to
be the King of Israel.
The imagery of the shepherd was also imprinted upon the
literature of the day. The 23rd Psalm is frequently referred to as the shepherd
psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters."
When Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Messiah he worded it
by saying: "He will feed his flock like a shepherd! He will gather his
lambs into his arms." Yes, the tradition of the shepherd was very much a
part of the heritage of Christ.
This picture comes more clearly into focus in the New
Testament. Jesus once told a story about a shepherd who had 100 sheep, but one
of them went astray. In our way of thinking a 99% return on our investment
would be most desirable, but not this shepherd. He left the 99 to go in search
of that one lost sheep. Later, when Jesus was speaking to a great throng of
people, Mark tells us that he had compassion upon them because they were
"as sheep without a shepherd."
Throughout the Judeo-Christian faith, then, the image of the
shepherd has been stamped upon our thinking. In our scripture text for this
morning Jesus again taps into this imagery when he refers to himself as the
good shepherd. For a few moments this morning, I would like for us to examine
together what he had in mind when he described himself as the Good Shepherd.
1. First, we have a shepherd that is a genuine shepherd.
2. Second, I think that the Good Shepherd knows his sheep.3. Third, the Good Shepherd also includes other sheep.
4. Fourth, the shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
Everyone hates to be surprised.
And loves it.
It didn't take long for something called
"television" to find that out. Filming people when they didn't know
they were on camera brought extremely entertaining and unexpected results.
Anyone remember "Candid Camera?"
Can you remember the name of the host? . . . . [Allen Funt].
Can you remember the catchphrase of the show? . . . ["Smile, You're on
Candid Camera"].
In the early 60's, "Candid Camera" secretly
recorded the reactions of people when they were confronted with strange and
surprising circumstances. Actors would approach a random person "on the
street" with some proposal or problem. The film crew would then secretly
film the good, bad, or indifferent behavior of those individuals. People were
asked to hold bags of money, tend fussy babies, stay put while a sprinkler
system doused them, and listen to terrible concerts. The situations the
"candid camera" came up with were classic and comic. For the most
part, people seemed to cope graciously with whatever they were asked to do. But
almost everyone ended up at some point with that
"what-have-I-got-myself-into" look of desperation on their face.
Flash forward fifty years. TV is still doing the
"candid camera" thing, but with far less comedy involved. Although
Ashton Kutcher's "Punked" was a comedic but crueler version of Candid
Camera, most undercover filming, catching people being themselves when they
think no one's looking, now ends up as an "expose." From "Under
Cover Boss" that has CEO's pose as a hired hand in order to get the view
from the bottom about how their company works to "Restaurant
Stakeout," where secret cameras film what none of us want to know about
what is really going on in the kitchens of our favorite restaurants, bad
behavior is what predominates. Overwhelmingly it seems that if "no one is
watching," we are no longer watching out for anyone except ourselves.
Is there any better feeling, for a parent, than to hear how
their children conducted themselves when you were not there? What a rush to
hear back after your kid spends the night at a friend's, "Oh, your son was
so polite." Or after a party you are told, "Your daughter was so
great at listening to my grandmother." Or after a special meal, "Your
kids were the first ones up to help clear the table." Knowing your kids
are practicing what you've preached - even when you are not around - makes
every parent feel like they've won a medal.
The truth is we are all children. We all have a parent
watching out for us and over us and encouraging us to behave in a certain way.
All the time. Are you behaving as your Father taught - as the Son taught - even
when you think no one is "watching?" Or are you guilty of
"behaving badly" because you believe the "camera" is off?
We all know from the Genesis story of Abraham and Sarah's
shared meal with some passing strangers that we might at any time be
"entertaining angels unawares." But the directive from 1 John in this
week's epistle text takes that mandate a step further. It is, in fact,
sometimes much easier to extend hospitality and help to a stranger than it is
to the neighbor we know, the "brother or sister" we see every day and
know who they are and from where they come...
How Would the Good Shepherd Look Now?
Those of you who are familiar with art may recall a funny
habit which many Medieval painters practiced for quite a long time in Europe,
and particularly in Germany. Artists such as Lukas Cranach and others painted
many depictions of biblical scenes but they did so with the curious twist of
dressing the biblical characters in the contemporary garb of the Middle Ages.
So in one Cranach painting of which I have a copy, you see Mary and Joseph
tending to their newborn son in a Bethlehem stable. You also see shepherds and
others in the picture but every last one of them looks like a then-contemporary
European. The men are wearing tights, silk shirts with puffy sleeves, and those
big hats common to that era. All in all it was an interesting way to
contemporize ancient stories.
But that mixing up of the old with the new and the past with
the current must also have caused some eyebrows to be raised. Can you imagine
what most conservative Christians today would say if some artist painted a
portrait depicting Joseph in a pair of Gap jeans, Mary wearing Ralph Lauren
blouse, and the magi in snappy suits from Armani?! There would almost surely be
an outcry. You should not import the holy, sacred images of Scripture into a
contemporary setting like that. It creates confusion, doesn't seem terribly
respectful. And anyway we perhaps risk "losing" something of the
original presentation by mixing it up with the trappings of our modern world.
But in a real way, can we even avoid looking at the old
through the lens of what is current? In this Eastertide lection from the Year B
Common Lectionary we arrive at the most famous metaphor for Jesus in the Bible:
the good shepherd. We have all likely seen one form or another of this
particular image depicted countless times in most of the churches we have ever
visited, on greeting cards, in artwork, and in many more places besides.
Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations
_______________________________
That's All I Want
A little girl reciting the 23rd Psalm began, "The Lord
is my shepherd; that's all I want." Maybe she missed the wording, but she
sure got the theology right. To have Jesus as our shepherd is indeed a
blessing. As he moves towards the cross, Jesus holds up this model of the good
shepherd, reminding his listeners that a good shepherd would lay down his life
for the sheep. He would give his life to protect the sheep from thieves, wild
animals, or whatever danger might confront the flock. We can give him our
allegiance because of his commitment to us.
B. Wiley Stephens, One Life to Give
Humor: I Should Have
Taken the Money
The college faculty gathered for their weekly meeting. A
professor of archeology brought with him a lamp recently unearthed in the
Middle East. It was reported to contain a genie, who, when the lamp was rubbed
would appear and grant one wish.
A professor of philosophy was particularly intrigued. He
grabbed the lamp and rubbed it vigorously. Suddenly a genie appeared and made him
an offer. He could choose one of three rewards: wealth, wisdom, or beauty.
Without hesitating, the philosophy professor selected wisdom. "Done!"
said the genie and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
All the other faculty members turned toward the professor,
who sat surrounded by a halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues
whispered, "Say something. What wise insight do you now have?"
The professor, much wiser now, sighs and says, "I
should have taken the money."
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com
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True Abundant Life
One day a man stopped in a convenience store to get a
newspaper. He noticed that the owner of the store had tears in his eyes and
kept looking out the window. He asked what was going on.
The store owner said, "Do you see that bus bench over
there? There's a woman who comes there every day around this time. She sits
there for about an hour, knitting and waiting. Buses come and go, but she never
gets on one and no one ever gets off for her to meet. The other day, I carried
her a cup of coffee and sat with her for a while.
"Her only son lives a long way away. She last saw him
two years ago, when he boarded one of the buses right there. He is married now,
and she has never met her daughter-in-law or seen their new child. She told me,
'It helps to come here and wait. I pray for them as I knit little things for
the baby, and I imagine them in their tiny apartment, saving money to come
home. I can't wait to see them.'"
The reason the owner was looking out the window at that
particular moment was that the three of them--the son, his wife and their small
child--were just getting off the bus. The look on the woman's face when this
small family fell into her arms was one of pure joy. And this joy only increased
when she looked into the face of her grandchild for the first time. The store
owner commented, "I'll never forget that look as long as I live."
The next day the same man returned to the convenience store.
The owner was again behind the counter. Before the store owner could say or do
anything, the customer said, "You sent her son the money for the bus
tickets, didn't you?"
The store owner looked back with eyes full of love and a
smile and replied, "Yes, I sent the money." Then he repeated his
statement from the day before, "I'll never forget that look as long as I
live." This man had discovered a measure of the abundant life.
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com
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I Am the Door
George Adam Smith, the 19th century biblical scholar tells
of traveling one day in the holy land and coming across a shepherd and his
sheep. He fell into conversation with him and the man showed him the fold into
which the sheep were led at night. It consisted of four walls, with a way in.
Smith asked him, "This is where they go at night?" "Yes,"
said the shepherd, "and when they are in there, they are perfectly
safe." "but there is no door," said Smith. "I am the
door," said the shepherd. He was not a Christian man and wasn't speaking
in the language of the New Testament. He was speaking from an Arab shepherd's
viewpoint. Smith looked and him and asked, "What do you mean you are the
door?" "When the light has gone," said the shepherd, "and
all the sheep are inside, I lie in that open space, and no sheep ever goes out
but across my body, and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body; I am the
door."
George Adam Smith
________________________________
Our Master Makes the
Difference
As I have moved among men and women from all strata of
society as both a lay pastor and as a scientist I have become increasingly
aware of one thing. It is the boss, the manager, the Master in people's lives
who makes the difference in their destiny.
I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent
intimately, also some of the leading scientists and professional people.
Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and
their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in
life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of
the wrong master.
By way of contrast, I have numerous friends among relatively
poor people-people who have known hardship, disaster and the struggle to stay
afloat financially. But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him
as Lord and Master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated
by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold.
It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes
where men and women are rich in spirit, generous in heart and large of soul.
They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies
of their time.
They are under God's care and they know it. They have
entrusted themselves to Christ's control and found contentment.
Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Harper, p. 17
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Love and Living for
Others
Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, "When a chap is in
love, he will go out in all kinds of weather to keep an appointment with his
beloved. Love can be demanding; in fact, more demanding than law. It has its
own imperatives. Think of a mother sitting by the bedside of a sick child
through the night, impelled only by love. Nothing is too much trouble for
love." Jesus makes it clear as he draws near the cross that his motivation
is love. He is choosing to make this sacrifice. He is choosing to be faithful
to what God has put before him.
There is a tale that in the first century a man came to
Tertullian, a father in the early church. And in trying to justify some
compromises the man had felt he had to make, commented, "I have to live,
don't I?" to which Tertullian is reported to have said, "Do
you?" The challenge is to focus away from self and to others, to ask where
our real values are-survival only, or living as to make a difference.
Leo Tolstoy said, "The only certain happiness in life
is to live for others." It is when we see the world with a larger level
than self. It is when we become concerned with others that we find the depth of
God's love for our lives.
Wiley Stephens, One Life to Give
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I'm Not the Shepherd
A pastor was taking a group of parishioners on a tour of the
Holy Land. He had just read them the parable of the good shepherd and was
explaining to them that, as they continued their tour, they would see shepherds
on the hillsides just as in Jesus' day. He wanted to impress the group, so he
told them what every good pastor tells his people about shepherds. He described
how, in the Holy Land, shepherds always lead their sheep, always walking in
front to face dangers, always protecting the sheep by going ahead of them. He
barely got the last word out when, sure enough, they rounded a corner and saw a
man and his sheep on the hillside. There was only one problem: the man wasn't
leading the sheep as the good pastor had said...
***********
From the Connections:
THE WORD: Jesus’ figure of the Good Shepherd is not an
idyllic, serene image. Palestinian
shepherds were held absolutely liable for every single sheep entrusted to their
care; “good” shepherds, motivated by a sense of responsibility rather than
money, considered it a matter of honor to lay down their lives for the sheep in
their charge, taking on every kind of wolf, wild beast and bandit in defense of
the flock.
While the shepherd/sheep metaphor is well-known throughout
Scripture, Jesus’ vow to lay down his life for his sheep is something new. It completes Jesus’ break with the mercenary
religious leaders of the Jewish establishment who care little for the flock
they have been entrusted to serve.
HOMILY POINT:
Christ calls us to the vocation of being “good shepherds”:
to seek out and bring back the lost, the scattered and forgotten; to enable
people to move beyond their fears and doubts to become fully human; to
willingly pay the price for justice and mercy for all members of the “one
fold.”
The Gospel image of the Good Shepherd calls us to look
beyond our own expectations, needs and fears in order to become “shepherds” of
reconciliation, compassion and charity to others.
To be a disciple of Jesus is not to be simply a “hired hand”
who acts only to be rewarded; real followers of Jesus realize that every person
of the “one fold” possesses the sacred dignity of being children of God and
rejoice in knowing that in serving others we serve God. In embracing the Gospel attitude of humility
and compassion for the sake of others -- in “laying down our own lives” for
others -- our lives will one day be “taken up again” in the Father’s Easter
promise.
“A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not
his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf
catches and scatters them . . .“I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me . . . I will lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:11-18
Negotiating the rocky
terrain
A rabbi who has prepared many couples for marriage shares
the wisdom of his years of experience:
"Think of two married couples. One couple insists that they have never had a
serious quarrel in all the years they have been married. They have never spoken a harsh word to each
other. Each considers the other his or
his best friend in the world. The other
couple has lost count of the number of angry, screaming, ashtray-throwing
fights they have had. Time and again,
they have found themselves wondering if their relationship had a future. But every time they pondered the option of
separation, they would peer into the abyss and step back from it. They would remember how much they had shared
and realize how much they cared for each other.
Which relationship would you think to be stronger, more able to survive
an unanticipated downturn or sudden tragedy?
I would have more confidence in the second couple, who have been taught
by experience how strong the bond between them is."
[Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, Overcoming Life's
Disappointments.]
In the work of "shepherding," sometimes we are the
shepherd who reaches out to the one lost or in trouble and, at other times, we
are the one in distress in need of a shepherd's saving hand. In Christ, we belong to one another; in
imitating Christ, our lives are at the service of one another. "Good shepherding" is not
dominating or patronizing nor is it for the weak and self-absorbed; "good
shepherding" is selfless and generous work that realizes with gratitude
that we are sometimes the shepherd and sometimes the struggling and lost. Christ calls each one of us to take on the
work of "good shepherding": to bring compassion and healing to the sick,
the troubled and abused; to bring back the lost, the scattered and the
forgotten; to enable people to move beyond their fears and doubts to embrace
the mercy and love of God.
*************
Fr. Jude Botelho:
In today's reading we see the power of the Risen Lord, which
had transformed Peter, who preaches eloquently and takes on the establishment.
Peter was speaking to the elders, the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, a powerful
opposition for an uneducated fisherman, yet he and the other apostles displayed
courage and greatness as they confront them head on. "If we are being
questioned and asked how this man was healed, let it be known, that this man is
standing in good health by the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Peter could
have taken the credit for the miracle. Peter has learnt his lesson and knows
that if he relies on himself he will fall, but his confidence is in the Lord,
who never fails. Peter moves from the immediate fact of the healing, to the
thing signified, namely the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Good Shepherds
In San Salvador on
March 24, 1980, an assassin killed Archbishop Oscar Romero with a single shot
to the heart while he was saying Mass. Only a few minutes before, Archbishop
Romero had finished a hope-filled homily in which he urged the people to serve
one another. Since Archbishop Romero was demanding human rights for his people
under oppression, he knew that his life was in danger. Still he persisted in
speaking out against tyranny and for freedom. He once told newspapermen that even
if his enemies killed him, he would rise again among his people. Today, good
shepherds who lay down their lives mean husbands and wives who can't do enough
for each other to demonstrate their commitment to each other; parents who make
countless sacrifices for the good of their children; teachers who spend untold
hours instructing the weak students; doctors and nurses who work untiringly to
show they care for their patients; employers who share profits with their
workers; politicians who unselfishly promote the common good of their voters
and parishioners who generously support their parish community. Albert Cylwicki in
'His Word Resounds'
One of the most
beautiful descriptions of God given by Jesus is contained in today's gospel
reading where he proclaims: "I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd
lays down his life for his sheep." Jesus was the visible sign of God's
constant care for his people. In our present day set-up the image of the
shepherd may be alien to us but in Palestine the shepherd was a common figure
in the countryside. The shepherd in Palestine led his flock, he did not drive
them as shepherds elsewhere did. The shepherd literally lived with his flock,
spent most of the day and night with them. Though there were hundreds of sheep
belonging to different shepherds, the shepherd knew his own and his own sheep
recognized his voice and followed him to the pastures. The good shepherd cared
for the sheep to the point of death. He does not just surrender his life for
his sheep, but he gives his life willingly, as He said at the last supper.
Knowing His sheep
One of the memories I
have of the home of my birth was a dog we had, called Roxy. We lived on a
fairly quiet road, but as the years went by, the number of cars increased.
Irrespective of how many passed by, Roxy was quite indifferent. Then suddenly,
the ears were at full stretch, up he sprang, and raced at full speed along the
road. There was no sign of anything coming, but we all knew that my mother was
on her way, driving back from town, and was probably several hundred yards
away. With all the cars, this was the sound that Roxy recognized from a
distance. By the time he met the car, my mother had rolled down the window on
the passenger side, slowed down slightly and with the car still moving, Roxy
sprang right into the front seat and accompanied her on the latter part of the
journey. I'm sure most of us have known unique relationships between animals
and humans.
Jack McArdle in 'And
that's the Gospel truth'
A Good Shepherd
After a particularly
brilliant concert, Beethoven was in the centre of congratulating friends and
admirers, who praised his piano magic. One unusually enthusiastic woman
exclaimed: "Oh, sir, if God had only given me the gift of genius!"
"It is not genius, madam," replied Beethoven. "Nor magic. All
you have to do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for forty years and
you'll be as good as I am." We Christians have a leading role to play in
redeeming the world, being porters of Jesus the Good Shepherd. That demands
strenuous work, persistence and perseverance in doing good. Beethoven was able
to perform great things because of his patience and perseverance. Any
leadership implies that quality. Anthony Kolencherry
in 'Living the Word'
I know the Psalm, he
knows the Shepherd
A group of men sat
around debating good and bad memories. As a result of the discussion an
impromptu contest began, to test their memories. One young man, with some
artistic talent and training in voice production, recited Psalm 23, 'The Lord
is my Shepherd.' The rendition was very very effective, and he drew thunderous
applause, so he had to recite the Psalm a second and third time. The second
'contestant' was an elderly man, over in the corner. He was rather stooped, and
it was difficult to hear every word as he too recited 'The Lord is my
Shepherd'. When he was finished, there was total silence in the room. Something
strange had happened. Unconsciously, many people felt a sense of inner
stirring, and a few began to whisper a quiet prayer. The young man who had
recited the Psalm first time around, stood up and explained the different
reception to the two recitals of the same Psalm. "I know the Psalm"
he said, "but it is obvious that the old man knows the Shepherd".
Jack McArdle in 'And
that's the Gospel truth'
Believe in the God of
miracles!
"Mom, I need new
shoes," Nicky announced as he burst through the door after school.
"Miss Bell says it's dangerous to run in the gym with my toe sticking
out." I looked down at my son's blue tennies. "You're right, Nicky.
It's time for some new tennies, but you'll have to wait until our next pay
check...." "But, Mother," Nicky protested, "I can't wear
these shoes for gym anymore. Miss Bell said!" I launched into an elaborate
discourse on budgeting principles. "So you see, Nicky," I concluded,
"that's how Mommy and Daddy spend money. Tennis shoes are not in the
budget this time; next time they will be." "Then I'll pray about my
shoes," Nicky announced. "I'll tell God I need the money by
tomorrow."....When he left for school the next morning, new tennis shoes
were still uppermost on his mind. "Can we buy my shoes tonight? You'll get
the money today, because I prayed about it." "We'll see, Nicky,"
I replied as I kissed him goodbye. There wasn't time to explain just then. But
the need to explain didn't come; Nicky's answer came instead. "This is
long overdue... sorry for the oversight," said the note I received in the
mail that afternoon. The enclosed check, payment for an article I'd written
long ago and forgotten, was more than enough to pay for Nicky's new shoes. After
school, Nicky's blue eyes danced. "See, Mom, I told you it would come. Now
can we buy my shoes?" Today Nicky wears new blue-and-gold tennis shoes -
poignant reminders of a child's simple trust and of my need to continually
relearn what faith is all about. Ruth Sentor
True Shepherd or
hireling
I remember a story of
an atheistic journalist who, on one occasion, was visiting a leprosarium run by
a group of religious sisters. When he entered a certain ward, he noticed a
sister moving from one patient to another, cheerfully attending to each one
with a nurturing love that was absolutely admirable. Unable to restrain his
curiosity, he walked up to the religious and said, "Sister, I wouldn't do
this job even if you gave me a million dollars." The sister smiled and
replied, "neither would I my friend," and with that she continued
tending to her patients. The journalist was absolutely dumbfounded. There and
then he rejected his atheism. To quote his very own words, "A God who can
inspire a human being to such dedicated and selfless service, in such revolting
circumstances and with such good cheer cannot but be true. I believe in
God." Such is the radical difference between a Good Shepherd and a
hireling. One does his work because he wants to, the other does it because he has
to; one has his heart in it, the other does not.
James Valladares in
'Your Words O Lord, Are Spirit, and They Are Life'
A Good Shepherd lays
down his life
Saint Maximilian
Kolbe is the patron of families, drug addicts, prisoners, journalists and pro-life
movement, and he is known for founding the Immaculate Movement and producing
the Knight of the Immaculata magazine. During World War II, Saint Maximilian
housed over 3000 Polish refugees at his monastery. He was eventually imprisoned
and sent to Auschwitz, where he experienced constant beatings and hard labour.
St. Maximilian died in the place of a man with young children, who was chosen
by the guards for the firing squad. Saint Kolbe is considered a good shepherd.
He laid down his life for his sheep. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, a good time
to pray for the good shepherds as well as the bad ones; and a good time to
realize that the Good Shepherd still walks with us.
John Payappally in
'The Table of the Word'
May we discover the Risen Lord, our Good Shepherd always
caring for us!
