Today is called Good Shepherd Sunday in many churches. We just heard Jesus calling himself a shepherd, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Where does the title Good Shepherd come from? Before we focus on the text for today we need to explore another shepherding story. This story is found in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 verses 1 through 7 and in Matthew chapter 18 verses 12 to 14. It is often referred to as the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
Jesus tells a story of shepherd who has one hundred sheep and loses one. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes in search of the lost sheep and when finding it, places the sheep on his shoulders with great joy and returns to the flock.
Jesus finishes the story explaining that more joy will be shared in heaven over one repentant sinner than ninety-nine who have no need of repentance. However, let’s focus on another aspect of the story.
Rather than focusing on the lost sheep let’s spend some time looking at the ninety-nine left alone. Who is caring for them now that the shepherd is gone? Is there dissention in the flock? What about the old maxim, “When the cat’s away the mice will play?” However, the shepherd must have had confidence in the flock to have left it alone.
Going back to the Lost Sheep story, the shepherd returns with the missing sheep, carrying it over his shoulders. The shepherd is filled with joy. So how will the other ninety-nine react at the shepherd’s return?
Maybe there is a group who are angry at the sheep who got lost? They might demand that the shepherd punish or discipline the errant sheep. After all there are rules and clearly he has trouble following them. The shepherd must teach him a lesson so nothing like this happens again and if it does stronger punishment should follow. Rules are rules.
There might be another faction who is jealous of the attention and the love the lost sheep has just received from the shepherd. They cry foul, there should be no favorites in the flock. Who does this lost sheep think she is getting lost and then being pampered so? They decide that they will ignore and belittle her to teach her a lesson and to make sure she knows her place.
Finally there might be another group in the fold. They share in the joy of the shepherd, welcoming the lost and missing sheep back to the fold. They proclaim, “We’re so glad you are home. We were worried about you!” and then gather around the sheep giving hugs and kisses.
Scripture stories are about us and how God interacts with us. So could the ninety-nine sheep be an analogy for a Christian community? We no longer can see Jesus, our Good Shepherd. He is no longer physically present so the flock is left alone. It is up to each remaining sheep to take care and to minister to each other. Will we be the ones crying out for punishment or retaliation or retribution or will we look out for each other with love and compassion and concern?
Now that we have explored where the title Good Shepherd came from let’s focus on Jesus’ statement, “No one can take them out of my hand.” It is not up to any one sheep of the flock or even up to the whole flock to decide who is good, worthy or virtuous. Jesus says. “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the God’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
So there we have it, or rather there we have heard it. No One can take a sheep (aka a beloved child of God) out of the God’s hand. Not a politician, a priest, a bishop or pope. It’s not for any member of the flock to decide who is valuable, virtuous, worthy or good. Only the Good Shepherd, who knows each sheep by name, has that power!
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Good Shepherd Sunday 2016
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