And Again!

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discipleship, follow Jesus, James, Jesus, John, Peter, sheep, shepherd, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transfiguration

AGAIN WITH THE SHEEP! The gospel acclamation this morning is a short verse surrounded before and after with “ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.” I actually think the word “alleluia” should always be written in all upper case letters and followed by an exclamation point. Otherwise it’s hard to get the enthusiastic meaning…but I digress. The verse itself reminds us once again that “my sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

I started to wonder why Jesus spent so much time talking about sheep as a metaphor, so I did some searching on the internet. In addition to what is quite evident, e.g. that their “undercoat” is soft and generally a good market product, here’s what I found.

A sheep is a meek animal, usually very quiet and gentle, holding itself aloof from the world. In a herd, all the sheep tend to listen to the leaders and show esteem to them…

I read lots more but that was the gist of what I found to be necessary. It helped me to understand why Jesus chose to reference them—in addition, of course, to the fact that shepherding was a very common occupation in that era and area. If I were Jesus, I probably would have loved all my followers to be like sheep. I’m sure it would have made his life simpler, his mission easier to achieve. But we know it wasn’t like that for him, and, in reality, he sometimes goaded them into accomplishing amazing things (some after he was gone from this realm). Take for example the feeding of the 5,000 or the vision he showed to Peter, James and John on the mount of Transfiguration…Some of what he presented as lessons took some serious reflection after the fact!

All in all, discipleship is always complicated. It seems that the description of sheep (see above) even fits Jesus somewhat and could be all rolled into a definition of what love is like, so maybe he was trying to teach by example. Jesus needed his followers to exhibit those qualities, but life is never just like that. Often we are, as the disciples were, called to more complicated situations that necessitated stepping out of the “simple life’ that had been theirs before Jesus arrived on the scene. They floundered sometimes in those situations, as do we, but in the end they stepped up for what was needed to further the mission of Jesus.

Now it’s our turn.

The Heart of a Shepherd

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alert, be watchful, gentle, intentions, leader, sacred heart of Jesus, sheep, shepherd, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unconditional love

It’s interesting to me that on this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the readings lead us to the relationship between a shepherd and his/her sheep. It makes sense, however, if we consider the care that a dedicated shepherd shows to the sheep. What might that mean?

1. A good shepherd leads the sheep rather than herding them from behind.
2. A shepherd is careful to watch the sheep and protect them from eating poisonous plants or encountering dangerous predators.
3. In most cases, shepherds lead their sheep each day to fresh grazing areas of good forage and bring them back to the same area each night.
4. When one sheep decides to go somewhere, others follow so the shepherd must be alert to the “intentions” and actions of the sheep.
5. Sheep have excellent peripheral vision, being able even to see what is behind them without even turning their heads, but they cannot see what is right under their noses, so need the guidance of a shepherd.
6. The relationship of shepherd to sheep is generally a gentle one and caring. To quote Jesus: “I know mine and mine know me.” (Wikipedia)

It’s easy to see why the image of “the Good Shepherd” is fitting for this feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol of unconditional love. If we, then, are the sheep of that Good Shepherd, how blessed are we to be so cared for!

Whose Agenda?

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agenda, brilliance, deadlines, determination, flock, grace, hand, humanity, love, psalm 80, shepherd, strength, strong, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I have a lot to accomplish today – deadlines are everywhere – and it is so muggy out (and inside my head) I feel as if I can hardly move, never mind think! But then I read just four verses from Psalm 80 (1-3, 16) and my determination to cooperate with the grace I know exists comes flooding in. Well, it actually started as a trickle but has increased already as I write. Here are the words that are my impetus this morning for my small agenda and, as I think of it, might be a starter prayer of petition to get our country and the world back on track.

Listen, O Shepherd of humanity, leading your people like a flock, let your splendor come flashing forth and shine in beauty from the throne that rides the wings of the cherubim. Rise up, come strong among our tribes and clans, and with your overflowing love recall us back to life, O God of all, so we may see the shining brilliance of your face. Yes, that will be enough for us, for we will be restored to you again…Reach out your hand to us again and make us strong, so we may be as we once were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Heart of the Shepherd

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Ezekiel, hearts, love of God, Psalm 23, sacred heart of Jesus, sheep, shepherd, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Somewhat distractedly, I began to skim the lectionary readings for today. First it was Ezechiel talking about God tending sheep – which always conjures up in me a vague envy for the life of a sheep herder or a dairy farmer (a more realistic choice for our day and location). It’s unrealistic, I know, but there’s something about seeing the animals in the simplicity of their lives – just grazing and having a routine with someone to care for them who moves through the days in relative quiet…Idyllic, no? Well, although I know the reality to be more difficult than that description, there is a warm feeling that arises when I read EZ 34: 11-16 as I did this morning. Then came the 23rd psalm and by the time I got to a second reading before the gospel I realized today must be a special feast in the Church.  And so it is. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, simply described, as Paul does, in the letter to the Romans (5:5) by the declaration: “Brothers and sisters, the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” The gospel completes the metaphoric shepherd references with the wonderful question of Jesus: “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine and go after the lost one until he finds it?”

It’s all about love, you see – the kind of love that is selfless enough to always think of the good the other more than our own comfort. Jesus was trying to convey that message about God by using something the people were familiar with in order for them to get the message. As I write I hear the melody of a “shepherd song” composed long ago by the St. Louis Jesuits that still conveys the message, not only of care but of tenderness, to me. The refrain says this: Like a shepherd he feeds his flock and carries the lambs in his arms, holding them carefully close to his heart, leading them home.

This is a wonderful day to think of what and whom we love and what it is that makes this love flow out of our hearts. If I love my job, is it because I earn a lot of money, or is it the service I provide and the relationships that develop because of what I do? If I love my family and/or friends, is it because there is never a disturbance – our days being placid and we unruffled by any occurrence? Or is it that there is some long-term commitment and care that has built up trust so that no matter the difficulties, we are in the relationships “for the long haul?” Admittedly, it is easy to feel the love in the easy times but think about the deepening that moments of reconciliation after distress lead to in a relationship. It’s that way with God too. When we are the “found sheep” we are likely able to hear God’s heartbeat more clearly as we are held close, as we are led home…Such a God is ours, such a grace is God’s love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabbath Praise

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church, Earth, faith formation, full of song, God's artistry, God's presence, listen, mosque, praise God, Psalm 95, Sabbath, shepherd, shout with joy, synagogue, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the voice of God

As I read Psalm 95 this morning I had images of families bustling about getting ready for Church. The subtitle of this psalm in one of my favorite translations names it Remembering the Past, Holding the Present and it got me thinking about how we celebrate the Sabbath. For some of those bustling families it’s about making sure their children participate in the faith formation classes that accompany the Sunday morning ritual, but the words of the psalm call me to reflect on the dispositions with which people come to those rituals.

Come, let us go into God’s presence full of song, and standing on the rock of our salvation, shout with joy. And in that presence let praise and thankfulness be offered there, for our God is greater far than any gods we claim to know or understand. God holds in care the earth we walk upon, from its deep caverns to mountain summits which meet the sky. For the waters of the oceans deep and the lands which stand above the seas, all these are God’s own finest act of artistry. So come, then, let us bow before this God of ours, and offer up our beings to the Lord. Listen deep within yourself to hear the voice of God who shepherds you and leads you forth to life.

So whether in church or mosque or synagogue, in a tiny cell or great cathedral or out in nature among the praising trees, let us come with all our hearts to a Sabbath day praising the God who holds us dear in life and love.

 

Re-up!

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Advent, assess, hearken, Luke, make straight His path, psalm 80, shepherd, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, wake up

So…here we are at the mid-point of Advent, even a little past. The Scriptures are getting a little more emphatic. The refrain for Psalm 80 calls out to the heavens, “Shepherd of Israel, hearken! (A word we don’t use much any more but which is the equivalent of Listen to us!) Rouse your power and come!” (In other words: Wake up and show up!) Perhaps I exaggerate but the point is well made. We need help here. But the Alleluia verse pulls the responsibility back to us. “Prepare the way of the Lord,” it says. “Make straight his paths.” (LK 3:4)

So my thought today – as often – is one of assessing where I’ve come to in my intention toward the deeper birthing of Jesus into my life and the re-energizing my resolve of readiness. At least I’m awake and moving at 7:20AM on a Saturday. That seems a good start!

A Different Kind of King

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Christ the King, Ezekiel, flock, Matthew, Psalm 23, shepherd, Thanksgiving. Advent, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today, as we in the United States of America move toward the celebration of Thanksgiving for all the blessings we have received, the Christian Church calendar moves toward a new year that begins next Sunday with the first Sunday of Advent, a short season that culminates in the great feast of Christmas. Today, then, finds us standing “on tiptoe” in expectation of the coming of Christ into the world.

At the same time as looking forward to the birth of Jesus, we pause to consider the mystery of God’s reign present now and to come at the end of time. We celebrate this reality today as the feast of Christ the King. It is significant that the Scripture readings for this feast speak of a king interested not in power over others but rather acting like a shepherd feeding his flock, carrying the lambs in his arms (EZ 34). This tender Shepherd is our constant companion on our life’s journey as Psalm 23, the great Shepherd Psalm, tells us. And the gospel of Matthew (chapter 25) lays out our role of responsibility in the kingdom of the Good Shepherd. We are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty…knowing the edict that “as long as you do this for the least of these brothers and sisters, you do it for me.”

Psalm 23 and Matthew 25 are among the most familiar texts in the  Judeo-Christian Scriptures, bringing first comfort and then challenge to all who are willing to pay attention to the message. They are the perfect “hors d’oeuvre” to bring to my heart’s Thanksgiving table, a motivation to love that may, if I stay awake, carry me all the way to Christmas.

 

Walking the Walk

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faithful, flock, God, Lord, Peter, Psalm 23, shepherd, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today my Church celebrates the feast of “The Chair of Peter” which is all about shepherding and taking care of “the flock” that Jesus entrusted to Peter. The psalm used in the readings for this feast is the universally best known of all 150 psalms in the Scriptures. We call it (Psalm 23) the Shepherd Psalm. It is often used at funerals and in many moments of crisis or danger. Some of us can recite every word but even if we can only get as far as “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” it brings comfort. There have recently been “contemporary translations” written, which for some are blasphemous but for some make the concepts more meaningful today. The one that comes to my mind is “The Lord is my timekeeper; I shall not rush.”

This morning I’m drawn to the verse that says, “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” That certainly is an ideal mindset, but I think of all that’s happening in the world today and I wonder if I could live up to it if I lived in Syria or the Ukraine or North Korea right now. But then I think of Peter who, even though Jesus chose him as a leader, was a bit of a coward when the going got tough. Remember the walking on water incident or his denial the night Jesus was arrested. He had boasted his willingness to follow Jesus wherever he went but certainly is a failure as a model of success. Fear, it seems, is a great equalizer.

Thinking about Peter gives me another kind of courage and comfort in the face of this psalm. I can repeat the words and really mean them and draw great peace from the promise. The greatest comfort of all, however, is knowing not that I am faithful to God, my Shepherd, but that God is faithful to me. In this knowledge, in this God’s company, I continue to walk my path.