The Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle (1 St. Peter ii. 19)
THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The Gospel (St. John x. 11)
JESUS said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.
Easter II - Message in a Moment
The key lesson that Jesus teaches in this morning's Gospel is, "I am the one the prophets were talking about - I am the good shepherd. I am not like other shepherds who run away when trouble comes. I stand and face the trouble down, and I am willing to sacrifice my life to save my sheep."
This sheep-shepherd idea is one of the most satisfying and reassuring spiritual images the Bible gives us; but the question remains: How should we apply it?
This idea has something to tell us about our relationships to other people. We all need people to whom we are responsible and for whom we are responsible - people we take care of and who take care of us - people with whom we check in and who check in with us. That is all part of God's plan for shepherding we can all be, to some degree, shepherds and sheep to one another.
This question as begs a proper understanding of what shepherding is from the clergy. One of the lessons at the Prayer Book's service for the ordination of a priest is the 'I am the Good Shepherd' lesson in Saint John. The priest is told to 'feed and provide for the Lord's family', and his parishioners are described as, 'the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood'. A bishop is told, 'Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not'.
Let us fulfill our Christian duty in the name of the Good Shepherd, amen.
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