The Bible's use of "sheep" to characterize human
beings is not entirely complimentary! At their best sheep are affectionate,
agreeable, peaceful, and attractive. However, on a daily basis they are
relatively defenseless, in constant need of care and supervision, easily
startled and flustered, and silly. Moreover, they often make stupid, pathetic
decisions: they eat poisonous herbs, run in circles or over cliffs, and lay
down and smother each another. Sheep often get lost and must be led to pasture.
They even have a hard time remembering whom to follow; slaughter houses have
used goats (so-called "Judas goats") to lead whole flocks of sheep to their
deaths at the butcher's block. The very quality and destiny of sheep's lives
depend upon the kind of shepherd they will follow.
I realize that all of us could draw from our
lives many human illustrations of sheep-like behavior. Here is one example
given to me by a colleague; it's entitled "The Joy of Teaching."
"Then Jesus taught his disciples the
Beatitudes saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' And so
on. After he concluded, one of his disciples said, 'Are we supposed to remember
all this?' Another asked, 'Will we have a test on this?' Another disciple said,
'I don't have any paper.' Another, 'Do we have to turn this in?' Another, 'The
other disciples didn't have to learn this!' And, another, 'How can I use this
stuff to get a job?' Then a school administrator who was present asked Jesus to
see his lesson plan and inquired of him, 'Where is your anticipatory set and
your objectives in the cognitive domain?' AND JESUS WEPT!"
Their blurred vision and trivial pursuits
prevented them from appreciating the teacher and comprehending the lesson.
Silly sheep!
.In matters of daily living we sheep tend to
fall short and mess up! Too often you and I accept direction from the many
inept shepherds seeking our unquestioning devotion. Think for a moment of some
specific low-grade shepherds to whom many adults and young people flock on a
daily basis. Recall some names of exploitive heroes and shallow advisers among
entertainers, among psychics and astrologers, among professional athletes,
among neighborhood gang leaders, among whoever is fashionable at the moment.
Pathetic sheep!
I suspect that the most dangerous shepherds are
religious dictators. They offer their flocks superficial emotional security,
including a sense of enthusiastic belonging, a protected family of sorts. They
provide ready answers, packaged certainties with little or no need for faith;
members leave their brains at the entrance. They supply toxic spiritualities,
often with intense rituals and peak experiences. Moreover, they present
themselves as the focus of the flock. They control, manipulate, and encourage a
parasitic dependency on themselves. They portray people outside their group as
suspect or evil, even as the enemy. In addition, these tyrannical shepherds are
frequently "above it all" - not subject to the disciplines required of their
flocks. Some are criminally insane, as in Waco, and some are pastors of
mainline congregations, even within The Episcopal Church. Lost sheep!
Another style of religious shepherding may be
found among clergy greedy for money or massive memberships. In a current movie
an assistant to such a minister tries to justify the pastor's slick techniques
by saying, "All he's doing is selling fairy tales to people who thank him for
it." Among such flocks are terribly naive people, perhaps seeking to escape
lives of quiet desperation. Also within such pastures are baby boomers shopping
for a God who will quickly meet their emotional and social needs with neither
effort nor sacrifice. Gullible sheep!
Other shepherds sincerely try to guide us. They
are the imperfect parents, teachers, clergy, government officials, business and
other professional people giving their best. However, the quality of their
shepherding will depend on whom they look to as their shepherds.
You and I need the Good Shepherd who leads us to
genuinely abundant life, the one who, with his disciples, meets our real needs,
the one who knows us by name and brings out the best in us, who strengthens and
guides our God-given capacities for affection and harmony, for inner calm and
gracious fellowship. We need the Good Shepherd who heals, not hurts; who is
faithful, not disloyal; who enables, not exploits; who defends, not attacks;
who rescues, not abandons; who provides, not takes away; who liberates, not
imprisons. We need the one Good Shepherd who upholds all who enter his gate,
the one who saves us from lesser shepherds. Humanity needs the very Shepherd
from God, who experienced life, its joys and horrors, the Good Shepherd who,
with his flock, blesses our happiness and embraces us in our ordeals. His fold
is the alternative to restlessness and chaos, indifference and boredom. We need
the Good Shepherd who raises us with ever renewing vitality to prevail over
present sufferings, who assures us of God's everlasting care - an abundant life
indeed!
Now and then on flights that take me south and
return me to Bradley Field, I see Hartford below. On some occasions when we're
at the coast I can see all at once New Haven, Hartford, and the Bristol area
where I live. I never tire of looking at this pasture of rivers, hills, roads,
lakes, trees, and buildings. On clear days sunlight glistens from water, moving
cars, and the windows of homes and other structures. And, at night - in fact,
only a week ago, I watched fireworks among all the other sparkling lights
below. Whenever we're over Hartford, I always look to the area of Christ Church
Cathedral, and I feel both warmed and challenged.
In our spacious Connecticut pasture this
cathedral church is one of many warm?hearted congregations of the Good
Shepherd. Yet, in the same region inept, even malicious, shepherds are
exploiting so many people, young and old. You and I are challenged to become
better shepherds among ourselves and to guide others to the one, true Good
Shepherd whenever we are able. However, shepherding is no easy task. Courageous
young people and adults will sacrifice some popularity by following the Good
Shepherd, instead of idolizing entertainers, professional athletes, gang
leaders, greedy trendsetters, and other "in" characters who promise much and
deliver nothing of genuine benefit.
You and I are called by name to be good
shepherds. We are baptized, confirmed, and ordained into Christ's ministry of
personal pastoral care and social justice. This shepherding - which we both
receive and provide - is the abundant life in which our deepest needs are
satisfied. When the Lord is our shepherd, we "shall not be in want." There is
no wise reason for anyone to settle for lesser lives offered by lesser
shepherds. Thanks be to God for providing us with the ultimate Good Shepherd
and guardian of our souls, the Risen Lord and Christ! Amen.