Church of the Good Shepherd
3700 Rutherford Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111-1997
The Reverend Kester T. Sobers, III, Pastor
The Fourth Sunday of
Easter
Good Shepherd Sunday
Good Shepherd Sunday
All over the world people seem to be searching for their “identity.” “Who am I?” remains for everyone an important question, with personal and social consequences. And so, we turn our thoughts to that question as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, 2006.
A careful driver was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy street. Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. Even though he could have lawfully beaten the light, he stopped at the crosswalk. The tailgater was livid. She blasted the horn, and screamed a stream of obscenities that would have put any man to shame. In the midst of all of this she dropped her cell phone and the make-up she was applying with the help of the rear view mirror.
She was still in mid-rant and almost missed the tapping on her window. When she did finally hear the tapping, she found herself looking into the face of a very serious police officer. He ordered her to exit the car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.
After a couple of tedious hours, someone came to the cell, opened the cell door, and escorted her back to the booking desk. The arresting officer was waiting there with her personal effects. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, he said, But, you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blasting your horn, making rude gestures and cursing a blue streak. I noticed the “What would Jesus do?” bumper sticker on the car, and another with “Follow me to Sunday School.” Then there was the chrome plated fish emblem on the trunk lid, and the “Choose life” license plate holder. Naturally, I just assumed that you had stolen the car.”
The Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter illustrate how early Christians found their true identity in the paschal mystery of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and how their discovery changed them and the course of history.
In the Acts passage we hear Peter and John being questioned by the highest religious authorities: “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Peter filled with the Holy Spirit replies, “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” Peter finds his identity in the one whom he had denied not so very long ago. And, make no mistake, he does not identify Jesus as a miraculous healer or the prophet of God’s kingdom, but rather as the one who was crucified and raised from the dead. Before Easter Peter and the rest were fearful and powerless; after Easter they were bold and powerful with no doubt about who they were and whose as well.
Each year the Gospel text for this Sunday is taken from the Good Shepherd discourse in John 10. There is something about the gentle strength of Jesus lifting us up in his arms and carrying us away from anything that would put us in moral danger. He is the way by which we find safety and direction in our lives. The image of the flock elicits thoughts of the community formed by Jesus death and resurrection. Our communal identity as Christians is shaped by the paschal mystery.
Many years ago a member gave me a tiny little ceramic sheep. It is certainly not a great work of art or particularly beautiful. It has, however always captivated me. Other than when I have taken it with me to show classes of young children, it has never left my desk. I simply call it “sheep.” It reminds me of who I am, it defines my identity. There is nothing more important among the things I do than tending the flock entrusted to me by God through Ordination and the vows of Installation. Preaching and celebrating the Sacraments and sacramental rites of the Church of Jesus Christ among you is not what I do, but who I am: No more, no less. The same goes for who we are, our community, founded and formed under the title of the Lord as Good Shepherd. The Easter season provides an opportunity to define our community in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Alleluia, Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed, Alleluia.
Amen
He is risen indeed, Alleluia.
Amen
--Pastor Sobers
May 7, 2006
May 7, 2006
FIRST READING: Acts 4:5-12
PSALM 23
SECOND READING: 1 John 3:16-24
GOSPEL: John 10:11-18
Spiritual Growth & Resources