Shepherds, Sheep, Bishops and Us

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Gainesville FL
May 18, 2011

Year A: Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Easter
Sermon Preached on the Occasion of the Visit of
The Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado Del Carpio, the Episcopal Bishop of Cuba
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10

Shepherds, Sheep, Bishops and Us

I grew up in Jersey City – a large, paved-over place overshadowed by the much larger New York City, just across the Hudson River.

Being formed in such a very urban environment I’ve always struggled with the sheep and shepherd imagery that is found throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments.

I’ve never seen a shepherd in person – and the only sheep I’ve encountered were enjoying the cozy protection of a petting zoo.

Maybe those of you who grew up in rural Florida or Cuba or Bolivia have an easier time than I do relating to the sheep and shepherd imagery in the Bible.

Certainly in Palestine, past and present, sheep and shepherds were all over the place, so it’s no surprise that sheep are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. In the Old Testament most of the references are literal while in the New Testament the references tend to be metaphorical – Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his sheep.

No matter where we’re from it’s a beautiful and powerful image.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his sheep.

A beautiful image, but, so what?

What do these beautiful metaphors for Jesus and us have to do with our daily lives back in Jersey City or here in Gainesville or in Cuba or anywhere?

Today- right here and now - how exactly does Jesus act as our shepherd?

Today – right here and now - how exactly are we his sheep?

Part of the answer is found in today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles where we get a glimpse of life in the early church. Like us, those early Christians were living in a time when the resurrected Christ was no longer present in the way that he had been in those amazing first days after Easter.

Instead Jesus the Good Shepherd was present – is present – in the Church, in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and the prayers.

It’s here in church that we are reminded that we are all sheep, loved and cared for by the Good Shepherd.

Now, near as I can tell, in a real pasture sheep don’t have any responsibilities except sticking together.

But, as Christians you and I have some very important responsibilities.

Of course bishops are well aware of their responsibilities. They are the heirs of the apostles and are expected to be shepherds - to search for the sheep who go astray, to reach out to the sheep who are not yet part of the flock, to protect the sheep from those who want to harm the flock.

I imagine that every bishop is reminded of those awesome responsibilities every time she takes up her crozier - her staff – the powerful symbol of the bishop’s role as shepherd.

But, the rest of us, you and I, we’re not just sheep. As part of the Body of Christ in the world we are also called to be shepherds. We are also called to take on the sometimes tedious, occasionally infuriating, often demanding and always important work of shepherding Christ’s flock.

At every baptism the congregation is asked, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?”

And the congregation responds with gusto, “We will!”

When we say we will do all in our power to support our fellow Christians in their life in Christ we sign up to be shepherds.

As Christians we are the Body of Christ in the world. As Christians we are the Good Shepherd in the world. As Christians we sign up to be shepherds.

We are shepherds when we gather together as we have this evening, devoting ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

We are shepherds when we reach out in love to someone who doesn’t have a home or enough food to eat.

We are shepherds when we reach out in love to someone who is sick and afraid of the future.

We are shepherds when we reach out in love to someone who mourns the death of one they love.

We are shepherds when we reach out in love to someone who has wronged us and offer forgiveness.

We are sheep and we are shepherds.

A bishop is reminded of the awesome responsibility of being a shepherd every time she takes up her staff.

But, the staff should serve as a reminder for all Christians - here in Gainesville, in Cuba, and everywhere.

It should remind us of the love of Jesus the Good Shepherd for us, his sheep.

It should also remind us that we are sheep who are also called to be shepherds – that by God’s grace we are the Body of Christ in the world – that by God’s grace we are the Good Shepherd in the world, today, right here and right now.

Amen.