4 Easter A May 3, 2020
Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a 51-60 Ps. 23
1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10
Lectionary Link
In many ways, life is about our relationship to and with power, knowledge and wealth. It is a desirable goal to have a right relationship with power, knowledge and wealth. In our lives, we need good modeling to show us how to have the right relationship with power, knowledge and wealth.
We can come into our relationship with power, knowledge and wealth in at least three ways. First, in being so dependent that we need all three of these expressed to us in care. Second, by being presented with a negative relationship with power, knowledge and wealth to expose the wrong use of these human life expression, a kind of aversion therapy. But finally, we need to experience the best possible modeling of how to express the power, knowledge and wealth of our lives.
I am not sure why we have it in the lectionary, but Good Shepherd Sunday occurs each year in the season of Easter. It could be that it sometimes coincides with Mother's Day, and who is a better example of good shepherding than a good mother? But this year, it does not coincide with Mother's Day.
It would be true to say that the desirable expression of the Risen Life of Christ is to live the life of a good shepherd.
The Good Shepherd discourse from John's Gospel models three facets of our relationship with power, knowledge and wealth.
The first being, "sheephood." Yes, everyone is at times in the role of a sheep. Why? Because vulnerability and needing the ministry of power, knowledge and wealth on our behalf is often our life situation. We can be the most powerful, knowledgable, and wealthy person in the world but still be in need. Of a good meal, of surgery, of mechanical repairs on our car, a hair cut. It is being in need of others which creates the balancing of reciprocity that is needed for all societies to function well. As dependent sheep, we are often on the receiving end of need. And when we are, we hope that power, knowledge and wealth will be exercise toward us for our care. And because we all know the experience of human need, this should train us in empathy for others or we may so detest being in need that we may deny that we need help and we may fail to learn the lessons of empathy when we are in need.
Failure to learn empathy in our time of need, can lead to the abuse of power, knowledge and wealth. In the Good Shepherd discourse, the words of Jesus refers to those who abuse power, knowledge and wealth as thieves and bandits. Power, knowledge and wealth can be used to exploit the weak, the ignorant and naive and the poor. People who do not learn empathy and honesty about their own need of other people, can become exploiters. They are the leaders who are "bad shepherds" who exploit every situation for their own selfish ends. And in the words of Jesus, he is saying, "Don't be bad shepherds. Don't abuse your gifts of power, knowledge and wealth; put them at the service of people who are in need."
And that brings us to the metaphor for the proper use of power, knowledge and wealth. It is the metaphor of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the metaphor for the Good Shepherd. Who is more powerful, wealthier and more intelligent than God and his Son? How do the Divine Persons of the Trinity use power, knowledge and wealth? They use them as gifts to us. And when these gifts are given to us, we in turn need to follow the example of the Good Shepherd in ministering to those who are needy sheep.
May God give us the grace of learning empathy from all of the times that we know personal need. And may the power of the Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit help us to use our empathy to be good shepherds and minister to those in need.
In this way, you and I can be rightly related to the gifts of power, knowledge and wealth in our lives. May God, raise us up from the empathy gained in our times of need, to be good shepherds to the people who need our help and care today. Amen.
Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a 51-60 Ps. 23
1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10
Lectionary Link
In many ways, life is about our relationship to and with power, knowledge and wealth. It is a desirable goal to have a right relationship with power, knowledge and wealth. In our lives, we need good modeling to show us how to have the right relationship with power, knowledge and wealth.
We can come into our relationship with power, knowledge and wealth in at least three ways. First, in being so dependent that we need all three of these expressed to us in care. Second, by being presented with a negative relationship with power, knowledge and wealth to expose the wrong use of these human life expression, a kind of aversion therapy. But finally, we need to experience the best possible modeling of how to express the power, knowledge and wealth of our lives.
I am not sure why we have it in the lectionary, but Good Shepherd Sunday occurs each year in the season of Easter. It could be that it sometimes coincides with Mother's Day, and who is a better example of good shepherding than a good mother? But this year, it does not coincide with Mother's Day.
It would be true to say that the desirable expression of the Risen Life of Christ is to live the life of a good shepherd.
The Good Shepherd discourse from John's Gospel models three facets of our relationship with power, knowledge and wealth.
The first being, "sheephood." Yes, everyone is at times in the role of a sheep. Why? Because vulnerability and needing the ministry of power, knowledge and wealth on our behalf is often our life situation. We can be the most powerful, knowledgable, and wealthy person in the world but still be in need. Of a good meal, of surgery, of mechanical repairs on our car, a hair cut. It is being in need of others which creates the balancing of reciprocity that is needed for all societies to function well. As dependent sheep, we are often on the receiving end of need. And when we are, we hope that power, knowledge and wealth will be exercise toward us for our care. And because we all know the experience of human need, this should train us in empathy for others or we may so detest being in need that we may deny that we need help and we may fail to learn the lessons of empathy when we are in need.
Failure to learn empathy in our time of need, can lead to the abuse of power, knowledge and wealth. In the Good Shepherd discourse, the words of Jesus refers to those who abuse power, knowledge and wealth as thieves and bandits. Power, knowledge and wealth can be used to exploit the weak, the ignorant and naive and the poor. People who do not learn empathy and honesty about their own need of other people, can become exploiters. They are the leaders who are "bad shepherds" who exploit every situation for their own selfish ends. And in the words of Jesus, he is saying, "Don't be bad shepherds. Don't abuse your gifts of power, knowledge and wealth; put them at the service of people who are in need."
And that brings us to the metaphor for the proper use of power, knowledge and wealth. It is the metaphor of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the metaphor for the Good Shepherd. Who is more powerful, wealthier and more intelligent than God and his Son? How do the Divine Persons of the Trinity use power, knowledge and wealth? They use them as gifts to us. And when these gifts are given to us, we in turn need to follow the example of the Good Shepherd in ministering to those who are needy sheep.
May God give us the grace of learning empathy from all of the times that we know personal need. And may the power of the Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit help us to use our empathy to be good shepherds and minister to those in need.
In this way, you and I can be rightly related to the gifts of power, knowledge and wealth in our lives. May God, raise us up from the empathy gained in our times of need, to be good shepherds to the people who need our help and care today. Amen.
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