Edgewood Congregational Church

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Thursday November 20, 2008

weekly sermon

Rev. Dr. Bary R. Fleet - Pastor
April 29, 2007 – 4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36-43
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30

Tracking the Sheep

I’m not sure that Jesus flattered us by calling us “sheep” – even his sheep. From what I’ve read in preparing for this morning’s sermon, sheep are about the dumbest animals around. A man who visited the Chicago stock yards observed that cattle have to be driven to the slaughter house, but you can actually lead sheep there.

Sheep will wander away from the flock, as they say, “a nibble at a time.” They just look far enough to see where the next green patch of grass is – with no awareness at all of where they are in relationship to the rest of the flock … or even in the world itself. I understand it is fairly common for sheep to fall off cliffs – just because they weren’t paying attention.

But the scripture lesson we just read from John isn’t really about us – it is about who Jesus is.

The folksbegging Jesus for some clear message about his identity: “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)

I can imagine Jesus, with some exasperation, responding: “I’ve already told you, and you don’t believe me! The things you’ve seen me do tell you who I am … but still you don’t believe me.”

Jesus then goes on to use the sheep analogy to help us understand something about how we experience the resurrection. The resurrection happens when people feel led – as opposed to feeling driven.

We’ve all seen the road sign bill boards that read: “Prepare to meet your Maker!” … as if that is something to fear. But what if, instead of being driven to be good, folks are good because they feel like it, because they feel better about themselves when they are doing Christ-like things.

The resurrected Christ is present in that desire.

This is the story of Dorcas … or Tabitha. (It is interesting that many women who followed Jesus weren’t named at all, but this woman had two names … and the only woman to be referred to as a disciple. [Acts 9:36].) “She was devoted to good works and acts of charity” according the Acts.

But the resurrected Christ is also present when we are feeling cared for … like a shepherd does for the sheep … when we know that our wants are met, when we have an awareness that there is nothing that we need that we don’t already have.

The resurrected Christ is present when we are able to truly relax into life … when we are at peace within our souls.

The resurrected Christ is present when we look back and we realize that we’ve been led to make good choices … and because of the past, we can trust the future.

The resurrected Christ is present when we truly are fearless in the face of death. When, in the darkest of times, when it doesn’t seem like the sun will ever shine again, but we know we aren’t alone, the resurrected Christ is present.

When we know, deep within, that there truly is nothing that can separate us from God’s love – nothing in this life and nothing after this life … then the resurrected Christ is present.

A mother of eight children was once asked if she had any favorites. “Favorites?” she replied. “Yes, I have favorites. I love the one who is sick until he is well again. I love the one who is in trouble until he is safe again. And I love the one who is farthest away until he comes home.” Jesus said, “That is what God is like. God is a Divine Parent whose love never stops, a Parent whose love will never give up. You may stop loving God, but God will never stop loving you. You may run away from God, but you will soon find that your legs are too short. You can’t get away from God. And that is not a threat, but a promise! God is out on every road where people, like sheep, get themselves lost, earnestly and tenderly seeking them and calling them back home.

(This story and the following idea for the Sermon in the Sack were taken from www.esermons.com, retrieved 4/26/07.)

The scripture lessons for next week will be: Acts 11, Psalm 148, Revelation 21 and John 13.

SERMON IN A SACK: A toy that is labeled as to its origin. Talk about what label we would have on us, as to where we originated. “Made in Heaven.” That would be the label for people – no matter what country they are born in … so we are all connected – we have something very important in common … Children of Heaven.