Abundant Life

"O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads…" From the collect for this Fourth Sunday of Easter, sometimes informally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. We always pray this collect on this Fourth Sunday of Easter. We always say the 23^rd psalm together. On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we always read something from John’s Gospel related to sheep or shepherds.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Jesus himself gives us the image as he teaches about himself and his mission. A few verses after this morning’s Gospel passage, Jesus actually says, "I am the Good Shepherd." In this morning’s reading, the allusions are more broad and complex… Jesus speaks of a gatekeeper, a shepherd, the gate itself. But we are still invited to join Jesus in the world of sheep and shepherds. What does the image of the Good Shepherd conjure up for you? It’s interesting that we cherish this image so deeply when we ourselves do not live in the pastoral world from which it is drawn. Maybe part of its attraction is a wistful yearning for a world we imagine to be simpler, more peaceful than our own.

The Scriptures themselves offer us several insights into what it means to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This morning’s Gospel describes the Good Shepherd as one who knows his sheep and calls each one by name. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows us individually, intimately.

Scripture also describes how the Good Shepherd offers protection in a world full of thieves, bandits and wolves. We live in that world. A world where we are threatened and vulnerable. Maybe that is why Jesus, as Good Shepherd, is so prominent in our teaching of children and whenever we face death. These are times when we feel or are particularly vulnerable. Our Good Shepherd protects us from danger.

In the parable of the lost sheep, the Good Shepherd seeks out the one sheep that is lost, providing care and comfort. Whenever we are spiritually lost, lost in grief or sadness, or lost and isolated because of broken relationships, Jesus our Good Shepherd actively seeks us, finds us, and offers comfort.

Jesus, our Good Shepherd knows us each by name, protects us from danger, and brings us comfort when we are lost or alone.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd also leads us. That is the strongest image in this morning’s Gospel, but probably the one we least associate with the Good Shepherd. "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him."

The Good Shepherd leads the sheep. He leads them out. And they follow.

The same Good Shepherd who offers us comfort, care and protection also leads the sheep out of the sheepfold. Will you follow?

I read recently that the life of faith is not so much about belief as it is about trust (Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust). Do you trust the Good Shepherd’s leadership? Do you trust the Good Shepherd to lead you? Will you follow his voice?

Will you follow him even if he is not headed where you think you would like to go?

Will you follow him even if it means leaving places that have felt comfortable or safe in the past?

Will you follow him even if your fellow sheep are not necessarily the traveling companions you would have chosen?

To follow always means giving up personal control and trusting the one who leads. And it always means moving. Certainly, when the Good Shepherd leads, the sheep are led out, or in and out, or along the road. The one thing Jesus, the Good Shepherd, never does is sit still for long.

But the most important thing to remember about following the Good Shepherd is that the future, the destination, the pasture… towards which the Good Shepherd leads us is always better than where we are. No matter where we may be now, good or bad, we are being led someplace better. The grass in the pasture of the Good Shepherd truly is always greener. This is the heart of the Christian affirmation. We are always being led God-ward. We are always being led towards abundant life.

Abundant life. Not just life, but abundant life. Jesus’ phrase in this morning’s Gospel. Abundant life. Something more than life itself. Something above and beyond anything in human life. Following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we will be led into abundant life. We don’t even really have a word for what Jesus offers. We think of life and death as pretty black and white. You’re either alive or dead. But abundant life is another category altogether. It is something more than life. Or we speak sometimes of quality of life, measuring that quality by our own standards. Jesus offers us something totally different, above and beyond even the best quality of life. Jesus offers us this thing called abundant life: a share in God’s own life, the opportunity to be a participant in God’s own living. We do not have words to describe it. It is the peace which passes human understanding. It is the kingdom of God, citizenship in heaven. It is living water. A place where stones and trees skip and sing. Our language falls short. Abundant life is something that can only be described palely by analogy and allusion. Abundant life.

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has come to lead us into this life. This abundant life. He does not promise happiness, or material security, or even perfect health… the things be which we tend to measure quality of life. He offers us this thing called abundant life. Abundant life, which can be found even in the midst of sadness or loss. Abundant life, which can be found even in isolation. Abundant life, which can be found even in illness. Abundant life, which can be found even in the very midst of death. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, offers to lead us into the abundant life of God. If we will follow him when he calls us by name.

Let us spray again the collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, "Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name and follow where he leads." "Follow me," our Good Shepherd says, "and I will lead you to abundant life."