Jesus came not only to give us eternal life, but abundant life, as well. (I prefer the word "abundant" to the NIV's phrase "to the full.") What does this mean to a change of the millennium Christian? What does it mean to YOU? I'm open to suggestions! revup
How are we NOT like sheep? We don't always listen ONLY to the voice of the shepherd. We frequently do listen to the voices of thieves and others who do not guard the gate. We all to often ignore the voice of our shepherd in favor of our own echoes. We are proud to say that we are not like sheep, but in "some ways," that is perhaps too bad for us.
Shalom,
RectorBill
AJM in PA: Thanks for your wonderful sermon last week -- it gave me just the bridge I needed to connect "where we are" to "where we're going." Cyber-collaboration: I love it! And now, on to contemplate sheep (after I count a few!) Susan in SanPedro
What a stark contrast between these words from the gospel and Shakespear's Macbeth "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That Struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Frank from Ks.
I don’t hate this job … not really. It’s just that I have been forced to make a confession, one which appears to be at odds with that person who, at least on my better days, I aspire to be. You see, though it deeply grieves me to say it, I find that I am forced to admit that I have become an administrator. Yes, it’s true. On most days I find myself shuffling paper, moving it from one dwelling place to the next, from one file drawer to another file drawer and then when I’m lucky, moving it into the brown round receptacle with the dark green stripes which stays tucked away under my desk. Administrator … me. Tragic, but the reality of my existence.
But please understand, this is not how I intended things to be. Thus, every-so-often I have to escape -- escape I tell you, escape from the mountains of paper that crush my spirit and clamor for my soul -- escape from my second floor ivory tower office and make my way down to the first floor where the ministry of this place happens, where needs are met and the promise of a God’s presence is proclaimed, where joy is sometimes discovered and life is restored. Escape.
It was during such a time when I found myself standing in our reception area listening to a young mother, standing there with her small child in tow, their dirty jeans and ragged shoes giving away the essence of their existence, an existence which I’m sure would have welcomed mounds of paper and a small paycheck at the end of each month, a bit of order amidst the chaos. Their story was so typical of the many who come through these doors – hungry, no husband, little education, little hope – traveling from Florida to New York or New York to Florida, traveling for the possibility that maybe, just maybe there in that other place there might be another life, a life with a future, a life which stands outside of the realm of death. And though it seemed like only a small thing, one small action which would not drastically affect the direction or the scope of their reality, we offered up that which we had, we offered up some food. They would leave here but at least they would not leave hungry.
I made my way back to our food pantry, certainly not a place with much aesthetic worth, located in the rear of our old building, the food pantry with it’s battered shelves and the cardboard boxes which somehow always seemed to make themselves into a cluttered pile. Yet, standing in the doorway of the small tightly packed room, stuffed with cans of vegetables, boxes of noodles, and bags of rice and flour, standing and looking in at the hundreds of items which others had brought from their shelves, I knew that this was holy ground. This was a place, which at least on a small scale, was a place that stood as the last barrier against an evil that would steal the life of a dirty little boy in tattered jeans. Holy ground.
I began to pull cans off the shelves and put them into a large brown cardboard box, two cans of diced pears, several cans of pork-n-beans, a large bag of grits, a container of noodles, and all manner of other assorted foods, filling the box to brim. Though it wasn’t a large box, not really – the box of food for the exhausted family sitting in our reception area. As I walked back to the front of the building I found myself looking into that box and thinking about the contents. Beans … not much excitement here. Beans. The kind of food which I always find in my cupboards, the kind of food with is the necessity of life. A box of beans for a battered family.
I joined the young woman and her child and I carried the box out to her waiting car. I looked at this beat-up dilapidated piece of rusting machinery and wondered how in the world they were ever going to make their destination. It looked even more exhausted than the mother, even with her deeply lined face, lines which should not be etched into a face that was so young. I opened the rear door and it moaned a loud protest of metal on metal, hinges screeching in their need for grease. I leaned across the back seat, into the car which had now become an oven, and set the box on top of long splits in the seat fabric, gaping holes out of which the foam escaped and fell into little piles of shredded rubber onto the sandy floor below.
Just as I was about to pull myself back into the cooler air beyond the rusting hulk, I glanced up and saw the small child looking into the rear window. I could see his face just above the edge of the door, eyes wide, as he stared into the brown box full of beans. He slowly turned to his mother and in a voice of bewilderment, he excitedly whispered, “Mommy! Mommy, is this all for us?! Is this all for us?!” She quickly shhssshhed him being embarrassed by her circumstance, being embarrassed by her need.
And my heart broke. For here I stood, in unquestionably the wealthiest nation the earth has ever known, here I stood in a land which produces enough to feed not only it’s own people but all the hungry people in the world, here I stood in a land where we proudly proclaim our worship of the one who comes to give not just life but life abundantly, here I stood before a little boy who looked into a box of beans and thought that it was the greatest gift he had ever received … and maybe it was.
I stood in the dusty parking lot and through the tears in my eyes, I watched them drive away, on to New York or Florida or some other place where there might be a possibility of new life, on to that day of goodness which, for them, will probably never come. And then I returned to my mountains of paper.
On this night, as my children lay safely in their beds with soft pillows caressing their precious heads, as I lie in the stillness of the night, listening to the peaceful breathing of the woman who loves me more than I have a right to be loved, I think of the thousands of people in our country who are not lying in beds, the thousands more who are just one small crisis, just one tiny stumble away from the nightmare of the streets. For them, there will be no abundance. As I lie here waiting for sleep that will not come, I find myself wondering why God gave us this task of reaching out with open hands and open hearts. I find myself wondering why God would ever choose us to be the servants, the bestowers of this life of abundance – we who have failed so miserably. And in the silence of the moment, I ask God for forgiveness, forgiveness for my sin of neglect, forgiveness for my sin of apathy in this land of plenty.
But at least, there were the beans. Thank God for the beans. Thank God for the beans.
Shalom my friends,
Nail-Bender in NC
We live in such a time when 'listening' becomes almost impossible - we have so much static in the air, so many things occupying our mind - if God did speak, we would most likely miss it - there are so many temptations - so many things look so good - and Christianity appears to be so very boring: who wants to be saved or even holy. They appear almost as 'dead' categories. To go through the gate is to give up life as I now have it - it is to turn the 'pleasure principle' upside down. The difficulty thing is that the voices I do follow turn out to be shallow and meaningless - yet I keep pursuing these voices because to turn to God is too absolute. Listen, what do you think? I kind of feel like Saint Augustine - I will enjoy my earthly life as long as I can before I convert! I will follow the thief until he has talken everything from me, once I am empty I will turn to God.
Tom in GA
I think it is Handel's Messiah and quoted from Scripture, All we like sheep who have gone astray.
Peewee would be about 16. One night he came to the drop in shelter for street children with a problem. He wondered if he should stay out in the rain, the damp and the cool fall air, or if he should go home for his street father was drinking. He was afraid he might get punched out. In the end, the quest for warmth oveercame the fear of violence. He went home and hid under his bed. As my partner and I left him in the light of the street lamps gray and dirty in the mist of rain, he turned and I said "I love you pop. I love you mom." Like Judas, he then walked into the night alone. The next evening our anxities mounting, we saw him bruised and bloodied. He was alive. His street father looked under the bed and beat him up. Street parents are a figment of the imagination. They are real enough. They have flesh. They breathe. They are parasites. This couple took pee wee. Despite being only six years older than he was they convinced him he was their long lost son. He was welcomed home. His welfare cheque was turned over to them monthly. He lived there. His biological parents abused him sexually. His biological parents abused him physically. His biological parents neglected him and abused him emotionally. That is why he ran to the streets. He ran to seek the shepherd's voice.
She heard the voice of the thief.
The gate, the elusive gate was hidden by the flock that was running in fear and trepidation from those who society says should know better.
This night as I sleep, I join Nail Bender and become humbled by my riches, embarassed by what I bought for the bills arriving in the mail, and strive to find a way in which I can be an echo so the shepherd's voice is heard through me. I struggle to find a way in which the shepherd's voice might find volume in the congregation I serve. A congregation that is afraid of the sheep who have bolted from danger to danger with ears pricked and hearts panting, longing for the safety of our master's gate.
Dave Somewhere in Canada
I will call her Clarissa. Shew was sixteen and beautiful. She moved with a grace that one associates with dancers. She was trained in classical dance. Some street missionaries met her. One wanted to marry her. They told her welfare was wrong. When I told her it was my obligation as a pastor to get her welfare. She looked at me and asked, "Can I dance too?"
She too fled the violence of the home, and the expectation to sleep with her father for the uncertainty and the haven of the streets. She too sought out the Shepherd's voice.
The food pantry manager called with the news of a terrible, terrible problem! The voice of a church member was angry and hate filled. In checking the records, this helper discovered someone had violated the "once a month visit" to the food pantry rule. Perish the thought, our bulging pantry and its bulging and overflowing budget might lose a few cans of beans and cents worth of interest in the bank! The administrator in me was overcome by the voice of the Holy Spirit in me. "Did Jesus give us this 'one visit per month' rule?" "Didn't I condemn building up our treasures on earth?" "Is this member one of those pride filled Pharisees worshipping the rule and trampling love under foot?" The voice of God finally spoke: "What would Jesus do?" We threw out the rule of "law" and began the "rule of love," "Take as often as you need, give when and if you can." ("But we've never done it that way before!") Scratch up one victory for following the voice of the Good Shepherd. revup
Barbara Brown Taylor offers an excellent distinction between sheep and cattle. She paints the picture of bedouins even today who gather with their sheep at the local watering hole. Many different sheep with many different owners are there with no brands or marks to distinguish them.
But when watering time is over, the shepherd gives his unique call or whistle, his sheep hear that unique call or voice and turn and follow him.
Taylor concludes with a distinction between sheep and cattle: you herd cattle; sheep must be led.
There is a profound message in this passage for all shepherds, all leaders in the church. Interestingly, here Jesus is not the shepherd, but the gate keeper. Someone else is the shepherd.
The shepherd leads, the shepherd "goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." There is an incredible power granted or conferred upon us pastors. Called and ordained by God through the church, people hear our voice and follow our lead.
Sometimes it is difficult for me to own up to the power I have been given. It is a power that is as awesome for the pastor of a small church as it is for the pastor of a mega church.
I hurt when I see how some pastors have used that power for their own personal gain, or in some horrifying instances, for their own sexual gratification. The Church has been wounded by its shepherds. People are beginning to doubt the voice.
While none of us is exempt from the temptation to use for personal gain the power given us to serve (I believe that was the nature of Jesus' temptation), the faithful shepherds will lead the sheep to the right gate, the gate that provides safety, freedom, sustenance, even life abundant.
ooops, forgot to sign off Fred from LA
One more thought about sheep and shepherds: When visiting a sheep farm one day, my three year old son started to chase the sheep. The shepherd stopped him immediately. He patiently explained that you must never, ever chase a sheep. Sheep are so stupid that, when frightened, they will keep running until they die. They will not look behind them to see if the predator is still there. They will keep running until they die from exhaustion. So the shepherd of the sheep not only guides, but literally saves their lives by stopping their terrified stampede.
Janet in MD
This passage is seldom heard in Church without at least a few people either questioning or at least wondering about Christianity's claim to be the sole salvation of the world. These people may not be only interested in, but committed to, any number of secular religions, and dead sure that their religion will save them. The tendency is to take institutions and ascribe to them salvational powers. Some believe in salvation through education, others through the free enterprise system, others through science and technology, and there are still others who beliee they will be saved through the possession of the right combination of status symbols.
Most of these institutions have been around long enough to be evaluated as salvational systems. They flunk. Education, free enterprise, science and technology, etc. have all produced some social benefits, some of them by mistake. But following their current direction, they may have to destroy the world in order to save it. What price salvation?
This leaves Christinity. And what this passage says is that there is one way to abundant life which is to hear and obey the voice of the only shepherd who can be trusted, Jesus Christ. The word "abundant" alone is worth several sermons. What on earth does it mean apart from the material order? How can an abundant life be acheived by following a Savior who said that he who would find his life must lose it? How can the prodigal expense of self in love result in a more, rather than a less, abundant life?
Peace,
OKBob
In a sermon by Janice Scott (which I found on Sil Galvin's deconsil.com site), I found an enlightening understanding of the gate:
"Sheepfolds in the East had no gate. The shepherd himself formed the gate by lying across the opening at night. Thus if wild beasts came to attack the sheep, they would have to first attack the shepherd. The shepherd protected his sheep by literally offering his life for them. Thieves and robbers would be unable to approach the sheepfold via the gate, for fear of the shepherd. So the only way for them to get at the sheep was by the devious means of climbing the wall."
Jesus as gate makes a little more sense to me now!
HW in HI
This morning, as I drove to work, the beginnings of my sermon began to form. I would preach about how we as Christians -- all of us, not just pastors -- are leaders. How we've become like our parents and said things we said we'd never say (Because I'm the Mom, because I said so, etc.). How at the ripe old age of middle age, we are now the leaders of the free and not-so-free world because we elect our leaders, and the U.S. is still the mightiest nation on earth -- mighty in war power, mighty in financial power, mighty in arrogance, etc. -- and how we allow our leaders to use or abuse that might is a reflection of our own leadership.
And then, about 2:30 this afternoon, just after the children in our Alternative school -- the children who are gang members, the children who are drug dealers, the children who are pimps and prostitutes -- left the building, I heard the news, the terrible news, from Littleton, CO.
And I am wondering, where has OUR leadership gone wrong? And I know it's because we don't follow the Shepherd, and we find all sorts of ways to get into the sheepfold without going through the gate. And somehow this Sunday I must preach on how all of us must answer the call of our Shepherd, and not be embarrassed, not be timid, not bow to 'separation of church and state.' We the pastors, we the parents, we the teachers, we the business people, the book publishers, the media, all of us MUST find ways to put an end to the violence of weapons, the violence of poverty, the violence of racism, sexism, of religiousism.
And I haven't a clue how I'm going to do it . . . except that I must do it. And I will trust my Shepherd to lead me. Pray for me. Pray for us all.
RevJan
It looks like Littleton CO leaves us all rather quiet, listening for the voice on how we are to respond. A ggod way to be until we hear the voice of God, not the voice of anger. RevJan, I'm posting my response in the review file, to the previous series of school shootings after Jonesboro. It might be a help, from the viewpoint of where I was after reflecting on Jonesboro. It is titled, "A Different Kind of Love." revup
i like what carolyn brown says in 'forbid them not' - she distinguishes between the voices of God and not - a lot of adults hear these bad voices and call them God.
lets see if i can send this without being disconnected like i have the past several weeks. - rachel
Father God,
The world will cry out for Your presence. The world will cry out for a fresh awareness of Your interaction with Your people. Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon Your shepherds, that they may hear Your voice and comfort Your people. Father, especially manifest Your love and comfort to those in Colorado who've been victimized by the presence of evil. Empower, by the breath of Your Word and the magnificense of Your Holy Spirit, Your Church, that we might respond powerfully and effectively, and be reflectors of the love of Christ to a world so empty of that love. Do this even as we pray in Christ's name, Amen... and Amen!
This is my first time to contribute anything, and I must say that I have benefitted so much from all of your contributions. Still, I am seeking help with this passage in light of the tragedy in Littleton, Colorado. We are but an hour and a half drive from Littleton, and people here are walking around in a daze. How does the abundant life of Christ tie in with this? How can this passage bring them hope? Thanks for letting me vent. PB in Wyo
In the wake of the senseless tragedy in Colorado yesterday, Elisabeth Elliot's musings for tomorrow in her online devotional seem so appropriate.
We cannot understand this kind of evil, we cannot comprehend what makes a person do such things but we cannot allow these events to deter us from praising God, not for the evil itself obviously but for His goodness, His love, and His assurance that good will be brought out of these kinds of horrible events. Praise God openly. Praise God willingly. It might be the very witness that someone needs to comfort and assure them when these events take place.
Rick in Va
Here are Mrs. Elliots devotional thoughts:
Choose to Be Glad
The Bible is full of commands to be joyful. The Lord commanded the people of Israel to set aside certain days for celebration, and on those days they were to rejoice. There was no provision made for any who might not happen to "feel like" rejoicing. This was what they were to do, young and old, slaves and free, aliens, orphans, and widows--in obedience to the command. The pilgrim-feast of Weeks was celebrated seven weeks after the time "when the sickle is put to the standing corn." The people were commanded to bring a freewill offering and to rejoice. "You shall rejoice in the place which the Lord your God shall choose....you shall rejoice in your feast....you shall keep the feast with joy" (Dt 16:14-15 NEB).
The rhythm of life is one of God's mercies, meant to keep us from sinking into individual ruts. We are called away from our personal inclination by the dawning of each new day, by the sun's going down so that we may cease from our work, by the changing seasons which require changes of habit, work, and dress, and by the regular occurrence of "feasts" when, without reference to how we happen to feel, we may join with others in purposeful rejoicing. We may choose to be glad.
"Although the fig-tree does not burgeon, the vines bear no fruit, the olive crop fails...and there are not cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord and rejoice in the God of my deliverance" (Hb 3:17, 18 NEB).
Responsible to Praise
We cannot always or even often control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen which dismay or appall, we ought to look to God for his meaning, remembering that He is not taken by surprise nor can his purposes be thwarted in the end. What God looks for is those who will worship Him. Our look of inquiring trust glorifies Him.
One of the witnesses to the crucifixion was a military officer to whom the scene was surely not a novelty. He had seen plenty of criminals nailed up. But the response of this Man who hung there was of such an utterly different nature than that of the others that the centurion knew at once that He was innocent. His own response then, rather than one of despair that such a terrible injustice should take place, or of anger at God who might have prevented it, was praise (Lk 23:47 NEB).
This is our first responsibility: to glorify God. In the face of life's worst reversals and tragedies, the response of a faithful Christian is praise--not for the wrong itself certainly, but for who God is and for the ultimate assurance that there is a pattern being worked out for those who love Him.
Copyright© 1997, used with permission, all rights reserved.
A Lamp for My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot is the source of today's devotional.
RevJan and all dear friends on this site,
The events in Co. demand that they be addressed in my sermon. It is very possible that this pericope will serve the purpose. What kind of shepherds are we? The President got right on the t.v. after the event to say, "we must teach our children not to use bombs and guns." Meanwhile in Yugoslavia... Perhaps it is only the church that can save these poor teenage boys who drift so far from the knowledge that God loves them. That is my hope. We are the body of Christ and we can end this evil.
I am eager for your insights, brothers and sisters, because this message must be preached this Sunday, if we are to be the Pastors that God has called us to be.
God bless you all,
Rene in Bluff Point
21 APR 99
Such a harsh and evil tragedy testing us to continue to proclaim Christ risen, alive, well, active... I believe,in John's gospel, the abundant and eternal (better, perhaps "Unending") life that is promised is most often present tense. It CAN be experienced starting now. As for shepherding? I suspect that our listeners will want to emphasize the role of shepherd-protector, in light of Littleton. Indeed, that is one dimension of the shepherds task. Still, notice that the sheep (us, here in John 10) are free to "come in and go out" and find pasture. What a frightening balance of safety and freedom. In God's will, we will not be cloistered and sheltered behind a fortress. Granted, the "world" has it's "Great Wall", had it's Maginot Line; has proponents for "Star Wars" and we'll here renewed interest in both screening (metal detectors) and prohibitions (outlaw guns)--both of which may indeed be pieces of this ugly puzzle--but we know the way and will of God. We have seen "modern society" go beyond the Bible in eradicating slavery (for the most part, cf. I Peter 2); and I hope to see the day when Isaiah's vision of a world w/o war comes to fruition, and I believe the answer will not be more security, more NATO military strikes, or bigger defense budgets. Rather, "for freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5). God settled on becoming human, facing death, and announcing life. Or, as I heard Will Willemon state yesterday at a preaching event: "In the cross, the world did all it could to God; at Easter, God did all God could to the world." We will see how Easter was represented even at Columbine High; our best will be to announce and proclaim Easter to our sheep-people on Sunday. My prayers for every one of you. Peter in CA
"I am the door. Whoever enters by me will be saved ..." (Jn. 10:9) Some of you may remember "So I Stay Near The Door: An Apologia For My Life" by Samuel Shoemaker. It seems entirely appropriate for this week's text. So I share it with you.
I stay near the door. I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out. The door is the most important door in the world -- It is the door through which men walk when they find God. There's no use my going way inside, and staying there, when so many are still outside and they, as much as I, crave to know where the door is. And all that so many ever find is only the wall where a door ought to be. They creep along the wall like blind men, with outstretched, groping hands, feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, yet they never find it ... so I stay near the door.
The most tremendous thing in the world is for men to find that door -- the door to God. The most importnat thing any man can do is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands, and to put it on the latch -- the latch that only clicks and opens to the man's own touch. Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die on cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter -- die for want of what is within their grasp. They live, on the other side of it -- live because they have found it. Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, and open it, and walk in, and find Him ... so I stay near the door.
Go in, great saints, go all the way in -- Go way down into the cavernous cellars, and way up into the spacious attics -- it is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is. Go into the deepest of hidden casements, of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. Some must inhabit those inner rooms, and know the depths and heights of God, and call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. Sometimes I take a deeper look in, sometimes venture in a little farther; but my place ceems closer to the opening ... so I stay near the door.
There is another reason why I stay there. Some people get part way in and become afraid lest God and the zeal of His house devour them; for God is so very great, and asks all of us. And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia, and want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry. And the people way inside only terrify them more. Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled for the old life, they have seen too much: once taste God, and nothing but God will do any more. Somebody must be watching for the frightened who seek to sneak out just where they came it, to tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are to leaving -- preoccupied with the wonder of it all. Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door, but would like to run away. So for them, too, I stay near the door.
I admire people who go way in. But I wish they would not forget how it was before they go in. Then they would be able to help the people who have not yet even found the door, or the people who want to run away again from God. You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long, and forget the people outside the door. As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place, near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there. But not so far from men as not to hear them, and remember they are there, too. Where? Outside the door -- thousands or them, millions of them. But -- more important for me -- one of them, two of them, ten of them, whose hands I am intended to put on the latch. So I shall stay by the door and wait for those who seek it. "I had rather be a door-keeper ..." So I stay near the door.
God, help me to be a good door-keeper, too, for that I'd rather be ...
Peace,
OKBob
Brothers and sisters,
Even before the event in Colorado, I was moved to talk in my sermon about how the church is a gate. An outer gate to Christ's gate. We can open the gate to others or we can close it. But if we close the gate, we are not good shepherds. By opening the gate we are showing the sheep to the greatest shepherd whom we take our cues from.
The event in Colorado emphasize the need to reach out to others especially those who are in pain, who are in the darkness. Those who believe the only option to their pain and empty lives is violence, either to others or themselves. Did any church call to these teenage boys? Did any church try to show them that they have other options than living in darkness and destruction?
Some churches don't. I had one mother tell me after I came to the church that she didn't want her two children associating with some of the youths in the youth group because of their "unchristian" behavior. So, she did not allow her kids to come to the youth events.
I envision the church as a gate. We cannot drive the sheep through the gate. We can only lead them through with love. As shepherds (meaning all church members, not just pastors) we need to bring the sheep through the gate to the inner gate which leads to the one true shepherd. And we need to do it as often as we can, because there are many more young people as well as older people who are in need of knowing the Good Shepherd.
These are my thoughts so far. If anyone can help me develop this further, I'd apreciate it.
Brandon in CA
P.S. It's a shame the lectionary stops on verse 10. Verses 11-18 are a continuation of verses 7-10. I plan to use verses 1-19 for Sunday.
Brandon in CA
As I wrestle with the lines from the lectionary and the headlines..a couple of things strike me. I feel a terrible sadness that no one seemed to really know these two boys who did all of the killing. They were surrounded by people but apparently not even their families knew them or I have to believe they would have intervened before things became so out of control. How well do we know our spouses..our families..our church family...what pain and loneliness and isolation lies within our own communities. The hope is that the Good Shepherd knows us and we know the Good Shepherd. There is Good News in being known...My only other thought is that sometimes we are called to be sheep and need to be sheep, that is , to rely on the protection and good mercy of the Shepherd..and sometimes we need to be shephedrs..to stop being sheep..stop following every darn voice...and stand up and be counted...with a message that speaks against some of the evils that may have led to the tragedy. Just a few examples..are we following when we believe that it is more important to give our kids stuff..rather than ourselves. Is it following when we race around to all of these activities believing that they have something more to offer than we do or than our faith does ? I am trying to set a time for youth group and every day is full with all of these activities...several families want the meeting on a night that I have calimed for my own family time..because the present schedule interferes with sports..I have to wonder about priorities and how much we have sold out to the culture... I sense both comfort and challenge in these scriptures...VMRT in CT
Just to add a few bits to the conversation... I'm not sure anymore how I'm going to focus this week. There seems to be so many ways to go and so many things that need to be said. As I did a scripture search on the words life, living, and abundant I found something significant to me. THe abundant in this verse is not the same Grk as the abundant (surplus, overflowing) love of Paul or joy... or even when the widow gave her mites while others were giving out of their abundance. Nope, this abundance seems to mean (according to my concordance -- I don't know Greek) extraordinary or superflous. It changes the meaning for me when I realize that lots of what I'm trying to do is create "abundant life" like I have abundant dirty laundry or catalogs. The less white space I have on my calendar the more abundant my life, right? It seems that again Jesus has something else in mind... for the life that he offers originates in him, is formed by him and is lived for him.... extra-ordinarily! Hope that helps someone. God's blessings upon you all --- RevAmy
We knew them before they made headlines.
We all knew people like them. I certainly did. Though it's been over 20 years, long before the current rash of high school horrors, I remember one of them showing me his handgun in the cafeteria before the first bell. It wasn't loaded...at least, I don't think it was. It was an old weapon, hammerless, I recall, but deadly enough I'm sure. He never used it...at least, not in our school. I don't know what became of him later.
They don't fit in any of the cliques and groups. Not with the "Jocks." Not with the "Brains." Not with the "Rah-Rah's." Not with the "Teacher's Pets" or the "Clubbies, or the "Dopers." Not even with the "Hoods" or the "White Trash." They don't fit in anywhwere...they are never included, never wanted, never noticed, unless it is to cast dispersions or mock. Or use as an example of how NOT to be. So, on occasion they make up their one names, or accept the tags of others. Like Trenchcoat Mafia (or Nerds, or Geeks, or whatever they are called this month)
Perhaps it's that way at home, too. Who knows? We can only guess. And we can speculate about how these misfits spend hours together commiserating and fantasizing, while they slash and burn away their virtual enemies on the Playstation or Nintendo 64, and each enemy perhaps slowly becoming associated with with a real-life counterpart, a person who didn't know they were anybody's enemy, and who only reacted like everyone else to people outside their group, their clique. Peer pressure can be such a blind and terrible shepherd, and we all followed, maybe still follow, whether knowing or unknowing, and I wonder...how many enemies did I make? How many are fantasizng right now in yours and my communities? Makes me shiver, and makes me sad.
I was certainly surprised enough, years after high school, when I met a old classmate in the grocery store who told me that I was one of the "Brains." Considered elite. Snobbish, even. "That's not me!" I thought...and it isn't. I was certainly possessed of good grades, and never had a scuffle with a teacher...but a snob? A Brain? I never knew that I was thought of that way...didn't even know such a group (or such thoughts about them) existed. I was too caught up trying to survive adolescence and and all its rites and trials. OTHER people were Brains, Teacher's Pets...not me. I knew who they were...and they weren't MY friends...
So it was that I reacted with disgust and anger when I heard Rush Limbaugh et. al. ranting and raving about "human detritus" and "monsters" and "society is not responsible in any way for the acts of these lunatics"...or something to that effect (all of course, to lead to a diatribe about virtues of the First Amendment and to lambast gun control...but that's for another time and place). We must be, all of us, at least partly responsible. If not this time, then sometime. If not with tragic consequences, then certainly with dehumanizing ones, that never make headlines.
Because, yes, we truly are so much like sheep. So ready to follow, even when the flock is trampling all over someome else, or everyone else, mindfully, or carelessly. In the end it doesn't matter much, because trampling is trampling. Hurt is hurt. Rejected is rejected. And dead is dead. What little deaths have we been party to? What big deaths?
This, of course, is not to excuse slaughter. Or understand tragedy, both of which always defy our easy explanations. It is simply to wonder...what if...
...What if we could find a way to be less like sheep and more like shepherds ourselves--shepherd our own being into complete awareness and reality--and blaze a trail to where the lost sheep are living in their alienation and rejection?
...What if we took "WWJD" seriously? If we WOKE UP and SOUGHT OUT those who are kept outside the fold, never let in the gate, and tried, TRIED SOMEHOW to reach them, touch them...love them? Is it possible?
...What if our churches took the lead--REALLY GOT OUT IN FRONT--in making the lives of youth safe and livable, not so much with rules and expectations and tests and demands and more hoops to jump through, not with our tacit approval of self-worth through beauty, buying, accomplishment, achievement, acquiring?
...What if we preached and LIVED the boundaryless love of God, if we tried to model the inhuman but totally divine egalitarianism and equality of God's Realm in every realm where we follow, and lead, or get lost ourselves sometimes?
...What if we ourselves could accept that we are good enough to make a difference in a life that knows to little good, or even no good at all? Is it really too risky? Does God ask too much? I ask these of myself, hurting, and don't want any pious mumbo-jumbo about "following the Good Shepherd and it will all be O.K.", because I have followed, or have tried...and sometimes it is O.K; and sometimes it absolutely is not. Churches burn...good people die and bad people get wealthy...and children are murdered in their school.
...What if we argued less about petty things like theology and scriptural authority and missiology and ecumenicity, and tried, TRIED for God's sake, to screw up our courage and and take a risk and love someone who no one else will love, or even talk to? To dare and challenge systems and thinking and policies--and especially social mores, religious conventions, and church governing bodies--that tacitly or intentionally nurture the dehumanizing of a single human being? Especially because they are not "good enough". Are they not good enough for Jesus to die for? And for us...who is "good enough" for us to die for? For me to die for?
What if...what if...a thousand what if's. And all of them pretty stale. Too bad, really.
...What if, WHENEVER we looked at another person, we saw in their pain the pain of Christ, in their eyes the eyes of Christ, and in their evil the cross of Christ?
I guess that would be heaven. The gate would never need to be guarded. A pipe dream. A total pipe dream. Pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. And hell is all too real. Just ask the folks in Littleton.
But sometimes, and God damn those times, God bless those times even more, all there is left is dreams.
-- Barry in OH
Thank you Nailbender for the main thrust and words of my sermon, that we ALL all are ministers and are ALL hampered by our ability to have our voices heard. Yes, Jesus came to give abundant life, and we need to PASS ON what we have found. Too many are listening to the Hitlers and Mansons of the word. Yet, I am closing with a story of hope. Hope that we can make a difference. For example (this one is for Nailbender) : In 1952 a New York probation officer tried to find an organization to adopt a 12-year-old. The boy had a religious background, but no major denomination would take him. Says Mr. Carro, 'I tried for a year to find an agency that would care for this needy youngster. No Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish groups would take him, because he came from a denomination they did not recognize. I could do nothing constructive for him.' If the principles of Christian love had prevailed in the Bronx in 1952, perhaps a good home could have been found for that 12-year-old. Providing hope, food and a better environment might have changed history. You see, that mixed-up boy was President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald! revup
If we had the task of preaching to the people of Littleton, Colorado this Sunday, what message would give offer from the Readings this Sunday? Can we trust in a Good Shepherd, when terror, violence, and death prevade our lives?
Tom in GA
Speaking of voices: Listen to the voices. A student hiding at Columbine High phoned CNN saying, "We need to blame the society in which we live." Rev. Sweet of Littleton paused counseling to say, "There is hatred lodged in the human heart." One student said, "There are too many cliques, like jocks, geeks and preppies." One said, "They asked a girl if she believed in Jesus. She said, ‘Yes,’ so they shot her." A TV psychologist said, "We must stop being cruel to each other in high schools." The voices of tragedy tell us people are not listening to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Too many follow voices like Adolf Hitler, Charlie Manson or even Marilyn Manson. One kind voice asked me, "Do you think the murderers’ parents ever took them to Sunday School or Vacation Bible School?" I would ask the kindly soul, how many shepherdless children did you invite to Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? (But I knew this person would honestly say, "dozens.") revup
Forgot to say thanks to those who have especially helped me this sad week...Nail-Bender, Dave, Fred, RevJan, Rene, Peter, VRMT, Brandon, RevAmy...thanks to you all. Glad that there is a place where we can share our thoughts and cope together when our wordcraft paradoxicaly seems to mean so little and yet is called upon to help others. Thanks...and God bless all of you, too.
--Barry in OH
The camps. I never much enjoyed going there, you understand. For each time we journeyed there, each time we entered that place of vanquished people, that place where hope drained away in the monotony of a daily existence of sameness, where time stood still yet everyone grew older, each time we went I would be overwhelmed with the sense of futility, the sense that I could never do enough. Certainly we brought food and medication. Certainly we played with the children and shared time with the adults. Certainly, at least, we brought some change to days that never changed. Yet, the fact remained, each and every time we left those places where battered refugees slept and ate and lived, if you could call such an existence living, nothing changed. The folks who were in those camps were still refugees, were still terribly scarred by the inhumanity of what we do to one another, the inhumanity of Christian killing Muslim and Muslim killing Christian, and Christian killing Christian. Nothing we did changed a thing - the burning remained, the rapes remained, the destruction remained, the death remained - nothing changed.
There were days that I was so depressed that I did not think I would ever be able to return. There were days that I was so angry, angry at God for being a God that would allow humans to be human, angry at all those nameless persons who had created this carnage, and angry at myself for seemingly not being able to do more. Depression and anger, and deep, deep sadness - emotions which boiled and churned within the deepest and darkest pit of my soul, almost to the point that I did not even want to think about the camps for even another moment. Until the next time when somehow, I would drag myself back to this place nightmares. And I went only, only because I understood that God would have me do no other.
And then one day, during the strangest of events, everything changed. I was leading a bible study for our small Christian community, leading a study on the book of Revelation. As I heard the words of God through the voice of John, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered …" Here was John, writing from what was probably his place of death. Here was John writing from what was probably a Roman labor camp. Here was John writing from a reality that screamed of defeat, that shouted out oppression, that was a portrait of domination and despair. Here was John loudly proclaiming the voice of God, "This is the "real" real! I have accomplished everything that needs to be accomplished! I have won the victory! Even when the world looks as if there is no victory, have the eyes to see and the heart to know - I have proclaimed the victory through my life, death, resurrection, and continued life with you!"
Suddenly, everything changed! Of course, the death of the camps were not the final word! The final word was the word of Easter, the Word made flesh, the Word who says, "I have come!" Though our reality today, as with John, again screams that the word is the word of death, the "real" real is not of death but of Life. For the Word proclaims, "I have come!"
Let us grieve with those in Kosovo, let us grieve with those in Colorado, let us be brave and have the courage to say, "Enough!" Let us love those who die. Let us love those who kill. Let us stand between them and say, "Enough!" Let us be the voice of the Word who says, "I have come!" Let us loudly proclaim, "No matter what the cost, no matter where you say for us to go, no matter who you say for us to be, no matter what you say for us to do, Oh Lord, we will go, and we will be, and we will do, because the Word has Come!"
The Word has Come so that we might proclaim Life, so that we might be the people of the Light, so that we might be the people of the Word. Let us loudly proclaim, "The Word has come, we have come, and life is the final Word!" In and with the name of Christ, the Word has Come.
I returned to those camps and renewed our struggle. Those poor, damaged people still faced a future of horror, and we continued to do everything that we could to ease their pain and to bring about a more abundant life. Many, many days I still felt deep, intense pain, but I had realized, my task was not to change anything. My task was simply to proclaim the victory, to proclaim the "real" real. I went with new eyes, because the Word has come.
Shalom my friends, Nail-Bender in NC
Dear friends,
Thank you for your words of hope and words of sadness during this week of pain. The deaths of so many children, here and in Kosovo, and in the many other places where death seems to dwell, have been particularly painful this week. It is good that we might live and love together, even if our flesh meets only across these wires of copper.
Thank you revup, HW, RevJan, OKBob. Thank you Susan, and RectorBill, and Frank. Thank you RevAmy, and Tom, and Barry. Thank you VMRT in CT, Dave and Fred and Janet. Thank you rachel and PB and Rick. Thank you Rene and Peter and Brandon. Thank you to all of you who have suffered and wept and tried to find meaning in all of the pain. Thank you to those who sojourn with us, connected through the life of Christ, all of those who weep silent tears and who speak quietly in gentle lives and kind works. Your voices mean more to me than you will ever know.
Shalom my friends, Nail-Bender in NC
Freedom. The price of freedom. It costs lives not only on the battlefields, but right here on the homefront.
The kind of freedom we envisioned has consequences. Consequences we never dreamed of.
The kind of freedom Christ envisions for us offers life abundantly.
Can we see now that we really do not know how to have life? That life truly comes from Christ?
Tigger in ND
Many pulpits this Sunday will preach Littleton, CO. Some will preach healing, reaching out to "misfits" and loving and understanding them. Some will preach a call to change our ways to stop the violence. Many will push for social reform.
Will these same pulpits also remember to preach a Good Shepherd who just a few weeks ago was slaughtered on a cross and shed his blood for the sins of the world? Now, even though human minds grapple with senseless violence, I can preach comfort of heaven! If the faith of 12 children gunned down was in Christ's redeeming work alone, then 12 children walked through the portal of death into life! Guess what? They don't want to come back because the object of their faith has been realized: eternal life with Jesus Christ. This is what Christian faith is about: preparing us for eternal life whether dying in our sleep at an old age, or from cancer, or from a car accident, or from a high school shooting. Jesus Christ had the final say. The ultimate protection he provides is not from bullets and physical death, but from sin and its eternal consequences in hell. I don't know about you, but I'm going to stick to my Bible guns and fire off a couple of rounds of overwhelming gospel for the grieving ... give them comfort and hope that can only come from Friday's bloody cross payment and Sunday's bodyless gravesite. Let's preach amazing grace! CHRIST IS RISEN ... HE IS RISEN INDEED. "And because I live, you too shall live."
Dubby in Topeka
Freedom. The price of freedom. It costs lives not only on the battlefields, but right here on the homefront.
The kind of freedom we envisioned has consequences. Consequences we never dreamed of.
The kind of freedom Christ envisions for us offers life abundantly.
Can we see now that we really do not know how to have life? That life truly comes from Christ?
Tigger in ND
Dubby in Topeka,
"This is what Christian faith is about..."?
I wonder...is the Christian faith only about eternal life in heaven; or even PRIMARILY about that? Does the "possible eternal life" of twelve slain high school kids and one of their teachers give any real comfort to flesh and blood families who will grieve in eternity for their lost sons and daughters and father?
Maybe Christ died more to show us how to have life abundant in THIS world, how to make THIS world into heaven--heaven on earth, (or as it says in the prayer we utter every Sunday, "on earth as it is in heaven"). A Christianity that is preoccupied only or mainly with the desire (at root, a selfish desire) to "live eternally" in the "greta Beyond" and ignores the call of Christ to challenge and defeat the hell all around us, is basically a shallow Christianity in my book. And preaching "abundant life" in the face of Littleton is possibly to trample with "head stuff" the very earthy and real and difficult emotions and questioning despair that has surfaced, and will continue to surface for weeks and months...to risk glossing over grief with gladness that is not only not felt, but impossible at such a time. I have heard too many sermons at funerals that almost neglect the life of the deceased and the needs of a grieveing family in order to "save souls from the fires of hell," and this is not pastoral care, but pastoral insensitivity at best, and pastoral bludgeoning at worst.. Sorry, but that's how I feel.
If I have misread or misunderstood the thrust of your thoughts, my sincere apologies. If not, please consider the earthly needs of those who grieve, who need not so much a word of hope, but the acknowledgement of their wrenching pain, in a caring relationship...because that's where hope and healing are truly born. That is the work of Christ. That is heaven on earth.
-- Barry in OH
22 APR 99
Thanks, Barry, for your response on the value of THIS life. Indeed, to be faithful to the Gospel According to ST. John, this undending and abundant life is to be experienced here. How am I--as a Christian Chaplain--supposed to "persuade" the Marines of my flock that suicide is an unacceptable option if the sine qua non of our faith is to hurry to the end of this life? No indeed, we might not have all the answers this Sunday, but that does not exonerate us from asking the questions and working for abundant life in the here and now. Previous texts have testified to the experience of the living Christ in this world. God help me proclaim and testify to the same. Peter in CA
While it is true "We're only 'here' to get ready for 'there,'" there are many people in such a hell on earth they do not worry about a hell out there. They believe it is so bad "here" it has to be better "there." For example, the two trenchcoat mafia kids who couldn't handle the teasing and rejection of their world. We must preach both, surviving "here" so they think of "there." (We must also remind them there is more than one "there.") revup
Sent to me by Lisa the Div Student at Duke:
A Preacher's Prayer
Dear Lord, you have sent me into this world to preach your word. So often the problems of the world seem so complex and intricate that your word strikes me as embarrassingly simple. Many times I feel tongue-tied in the company of people who are dealing with the world's social and economic problems.
But you, O Lord, said, "Be clever as serpents and innocent as doves." Let me retain innocence and simplicity in the midst of this complex world. I realize that I have to be informed, that I have to study the many aspects of the problems facing the world, and that I have to try to understand as well as possible the dynamics of our contemporary society. But what really counts is that all this information, knowledge, and insight allow me to speak more clearly and unambiguously your truthful word. Do not allow evil powers to seduce me with the complexities of the world's problems, but give me the strength to think clearly, speak freely, and act boldly in your service. Give me the courage to show the dove in a world so full of serpents. Amen.
Henri Nowen, A Cry for Mercy
Rick in Va
If we are trying to wrestle between Heaven right here on earth, where Jesus said our faith should bring it, or Heaven in that place where our "Father" dwells, we might agree that Heaven is in both, assuming that we respond to God's love within this life. Heaven then becomes a kingdom here and now and forever, with certain requirements placed upon its citizens, not the least of which may be fighting as a Marine in a "just war" as in the "Hymns of Zion" like Psalm 46. Thus is the "City of God" defended on this earth. In such a way do we have the hope of peace. At the same time, those young marines that Peter serves in California and the grieving families in Littleton deserve to know that the slain children (even the killers themselves) reside now and forever within the absolute love of God which exists even beyond this life. But what about evil? I am trying to make my sermon a simple contrast of good against evil. If ever there was a time and place to give the Devil his due, this is it. That is something my congregations can understand. It is Jesus versus the Devil in Littleton and all the towns across this land. What are we going to do about it? How many misled boys can we pull from the fire? How many can we truly baptize into the love of the Church (which is the body of Christ on this earth). The Devil told us all what he fears the most when he asked the girl, "do you love Jesus?" before he shot her. I have real faith that she did not die alone. Christ was right there with her, re-living the crucifixion. He will be there with her in her resurrection, now and forever. So too will each of you, who struggle to keep the light of God alive this Sunday. After all, Heaven is where our hearts are.
Yours in Christ,
Rene in Bluff Point (I thank God for the comradship of each of you)
Rene in Bluff Point, (where is that, anyway?)--
Your phrase "At the same time, those young marines that Peter serves in California and the grieving families in Littleton deserve to know that the slain children (even the killers themselves) reside now and forever within the absolute love of God which exists even beyond this life." -- this helps illusrate the point I was trying to make (or maybe, the assumption from which I was working): we are never APART or OUTSIDE of that absolute love of God. It exists beyond this life, to be sure... but this life exists WITHIN IT, within that love, CREATED BY that love, constantly being shaped and renewed by that love. Evil happens when, for whatever reason, we are blind to this reality, or reject it outright. Or so it seems to me.
And to relate it to our text--Jesus is the gate for us, always open, always available, for us to enter that love. He makes it visible, easily and always beckoning to us. It is never closed, and we are never cut off, even if exitentially we seek to isolate ourselves knowingly or unknowingly from God. Or if someone with a Tech-9 engages us in an act of anti-love. We may walk back out through the gate, or someone may seek violently (even lethally) to drive us out...but it does not close behind us. Indeed, as shepherds, we are the ones to pursue and bring back to the reality of this love all those who are estranged from it...or even by it. It is, after all, an awesome, demanding, all-encompassing love--anmd as such, frightening at times.
Enough for now--thanks for you comments, and to the rest who responded to my critique. If there are hard edges, it is only because I myself am edgy trying to deal with the all this.
--Barry in OH
I agree with Barry OH on the here and now of eternal life. I preached on the here and now of eternal life on the 5th Sunday in Lent. I borrowed ideas and thoughts from a number of people on this site and others so I credit them all. Throughout the gospels, Jesus speaks of eternal life as being entered into in the here and now. * JN Chap 6 - "I solemnly assure you, the one who hears my word and has faith in Him who sent me possesses eternal life. He does not come under condemnation but has passed from death to life." So, maybe 'eternal life' is not something that happens only after we die but it begins with the very life we enter into, at the precise time that we remove ourselves from the center of our life, and instead place God there. Becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven happens when we transfer trust and confidence from ourselves to Jesus. In essence, the heavenly hereafter is a wonderful continuation, and eternal expansion of what the true believer already enjoys in this life. Making Christ the center of our life begins with Baptism. Baptism has brought us life "now"; the present reality is filled with Jesus' presence to us and a new life now. Baptism carries with it the promise of 'eternal life' but it is a beginning. We need to live up to our baptismal promises which we renewed at Easter. As St. Paul's letter to Romans Ch8 says, the Spirit of Jesus must be alive in us so that "the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you." If Jesus is to be our Resurrection and our Life now, we have to die to ourselves each day and become Christ centered in order to be raised to newness of life now and for all eternity. It is not enough to receive the sacraments; we have to actively pursue a relationship with Christ. This is the challenge of the Shepherd. Lead the flock, but also heal the wounds. The sheep need to know the voice of the shepherd but when there are some who aren't listening we have to leave the ninety-nine and go in search of them. Maybe we 'leaders' need to be more attentive to those who aren't following us. Seek them out and lead them back to the fold. Leaders in this context involves all baptized Christians. Jesus exhorts us to "Save yourself from this corrupt generation." Deacon Tom Summerville, SC
My heart has been heavy as all of us in the nation over "How do I preach this text after the killings in Littleton?"
Then I remember the thousands of children who are abused, neglected, and violently mistreated all of the time. I think "How do I preach any Sunday?"
I am reminded of the feeding of the five thousand when Jesus said to the disciples "You feed them". How shocking that must have been to have heard that. As shocking perhaps as the task of delivering a message of Life Abundant this week. But God is present with us as we preach. God has called us with the familiar voice of a gentle shepherd to share hope not in the absence of tragedy and pain, or even in the midst of, but in spite of it all.
Christ open our hearts and minds as we seek to equip shepherds in your name. Help us to speak your hope and to walk in your love as we grapple with what we are to do. Guide us in how we are to love as we go on seeking to be faithful leaders.
Barry in OH, thank you for your words. Thank you to all of you who so thoughtfully share you insights here.
Prayers for all of you, pray for me as well.
Peace, Dwight in WV
Deacon Tom and Barry in OH,
You have both said it better than I did. Indeed, we are always engulfed in God's love, as prevenient grace describes (I am a United Methodist). However, we do not always know it. Further, once we know it, we have the responsibility to act upon that knowledge (how could one help but to do so?). I am struggling within my sermon to find the grace within the death of the children, which is my own well-earned trauma, as it probably is for many.
My faith begins with the companionship of Jesus Christ, within the healiing community, and also (crucially) within our hearts. Jesus by nature is a known God, born in a time and a place with a name and a mother and flesh like any one of us. Resurrected, is he not also with the girl who was asked if she loved Jesus before she was shot? I think that within this mystery lies the bridge between "heaven on earth" and "heaven beyond." It is faith, hope, and a fierce tenderness exerted through our lives. Like it or not, I have had to tell mothers that their child is dead. They say, "where is she now?" I say, "secure in the love of God." "In heaven?" they ask. I say, "of course," and I mean it.
The Devil (if I may be allowed to personify--and my congregations do) keeps the child from knowing the love of God, and places the stupid little machine-gun in his hands. Who is that Devil? All of us really, in as much as we have failed to put something more wholesome there. I know that all of us have tried on other kids before. Sometimes we fail, but as the Kingdom of God endeavors always to be born, we try again.
Barry in OH, Bluff Point is in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Grapes are the major economic base here, and United Methodism is alive and well. The blue skies are like saphire and the dogs ride around in the backs of pick-up trucks wagging their tails. Except for mine that is. She stuffs herself in the cab with me and barks out the window at squirrels. She is the preacher's hound.
God keep you all, Rene
Here I am, just another desperate preacher. Especially desperate this week because our lives have been turned upside by the school shooting in Littleton.
My husband and I have kept our four-year-old away from the t.v. news this week, so I am aware that what I say on Sunday morning must be sensitive to the fact that there are 3, 4, 5, 6- year-olds in the congregation. What have their parents told them? I hope we will keep this in mind as we address the events of the past week. We have to address them, I believe.
I am struggling with some of the concepts I have read in postings here. We want to DO something after this happens. We want to keep it from happening again. I do think we should do all that we can to open our gates -- our homes and churches -- to those in need.
But then what? We are not directly responsible for those two boys and their actions. (Would their parents say the same thing?) I have a member family of one of my congregations that adopted two boys --one at age 9. Now that boy is 19 and has failed his first year of an expensive college (though he could have made good grades). There is too much about his personality and behavior to explain here, but he is troubled. I wonder how he will ever get along in life. He has come home now to broken hearted parents. They don't understand how he got to be like this.
Anyway, what I am getting at is this: Something happens with children early - EARLY! -- and parents are the first gate to any normal life their kids will ever get. How do we help them?
This "evil" thing is a real problem! What do we do with it? We'd like to blame someone, but we know that doesn't help much. Then we try to blame ourselves, or get into action to prevent it from happening again... Someone here said we have a balance between freedom and safety. I sure agree.
We have to find a balance between grieving the pain and responding to it. Feel it. Know that Jesus felt his pain and feels this. "For Thou art with me". (Psalm 23 and John 3:16 are the only things that are still KJV for me!)
But then what? I am still searching on this one!
from buckabee
The shepherd..."calls his own sheep by name....the sheep follow him because they know his voice...."
The focus in light of all the tragedies - daily in all of our communites not just in Colorado or Kosovos but everywhere is that the shepherd "cares deeply about his sheep because he knows them by name". My vision of these two boys meeting God was a response from them "But nobody cared". God's response. "I did and I do" The good shepherd never abandons his sheep. The message on Sunday is about "CARING". Ask each member of your congregation to this week tell 10 people "I care about you". Let each of us be the gate to the Good Shepherd.
Marilyn from Canada
Regarding comments of Barry in Ohio,
When I read other's responses (including my own) I see our attempts to be concise and to the point so as not to drag on. But then, short statements can be misconstrued. Allow me to respond for clarity. You wrote: "I wonder...is the Christian faith only about eternal life in heaven; or even PRIMARILY about that?" My answer: Yes, it is. Faith is simple child like trust that what God says is true. I trust that what God says in his Word is true. So what does God's Word say? It tells me how to live out my faith in life with his comfort, providence, and protection. That's a very important truth that affects every day of my life. But the PRIMARY TRUTH of the Bible is to reveal for me God's plan to make things right between me and him ... not only for this physical life (which ends after a few decades) but for eternal life: "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son ... so that you and I will NOT PERISH but have ETERNAL LIFE." That's the gospel in a nutshell -- a truth that answers why God sent Jesus: not just so I can strive for Christian life now, but PRIMARILY to freely give me eternal life as a gift of love. Eternal life with God in heaven. That's why God sent Jesus -- to comfort me with the very REAL HOPE of eternal life. Does that give real comfort to flesh and blood families who will grieve in eternity for their recenlty-lost sons and daughters and father in Littleton? You bet it will! Jesus said, "He who beleives in me will live, even though they die. And the one who lives and beleives in me will never die. I find it very fitting at funerals to focus on the life and death of Jesus because it was payment for the sins of the departed loved one. His death and resurrection are the only real comfort for the real hope of heaven. That's addressing the feelings and emotions of the grieving and telling them what they need to hear the most! By saying that, don't think I'm ignoring the life of the departed one. Of course I lovingly refer to the departed one who lived life to Christ. But frankly, living my life to Christ will not be my ticket into heaven -- no matter how good I live it. This is the heart of it all: either we are saved by living a life of good works, or we are saved by the tag team effort of Jesus on the cross and our life of good works, or "It is BY GRACE we've been saved -- and this is not of ourselves ... not of works, so that no man can boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). I pray each person who stands before God's throne and is asked, "Why shall I let you into heaven?" can answer, "God, let me into heaven because Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again that I may be declared not guilty of sin. Because of Jesus, I am pure and holy in your sight." God will say, "Come into the glory that has been prepared for you." May God's grace for slains Colorado teens be emphasized for it alone saved them for eternal life!
So I would disagree with you, Barry from Ohio. I will comfort the grieving with kind words and understanding, but as a pastor, I want to dry their eyes -- not with the memory of young lives now departed, but with the memory of a Lord who loved them so much that he died to assure them a place in heaven. Now there is hope for all who grieve that someday, they will see them in heaven!
Barry, you also wrote, "A Christianity that is preoccupied only or mainly with the desire (at root, a selfish desire) to "live eternally" in the "greta Beyond" and ignores the call of Christ to challenge and defeat the hell all around us, is basically a shallow Christianity in my book." The hope of heaven is not a selfish desire but a gift of God to undeserving Christians. Since Christ defeated the devil's attempt to rob us of eternal life by his cross death, we MUST preach that victory! Look at Paul go nuts about heaven and eternal life in 1 Corinthians chapter 15! That's not "shallow Christianity," but the most comforting hope a tearstreaked face could ever hear. Let's dry some earthly tears this Sunday with the saving message of Christ which motivates Chrsitians to then go out and live a godly life. Barry, I find no "head stuff" in that message, only "hope stuff." Christ's resurrection this Easter season assures a renewal not only for my earthly life now, but the eternal destinations of every human. Is that "glossing over grief?" No. It's "overwhelming the grieving with God's grace" for the weeks and months to come ... not only for "here", but also for "there." Make every Sunday service as "Easter oasis!"
Dubby in Topeka
Thanks to everyone, but special thanks to OKBob and Rene from Bluff Point for getting me thinking about the ecology of the spirit we find here in John 10 and in the news. Some reflections: (1) We live in the "City of People" which is a crazy, mixed up Babylon, or Tower of Babel, with a multitude of voices crying for every ideology from freedom and capitalism to anarchy and nihilism, for every religion from what-passes-for-Christianity to Satan-worship. The two boys in Colorado are not too different from the Serbian army, or the leaders of NATO, believing with all their hearts that what they believe (even if it is "nothing") must be defended to the death. (2)We also live in the City of God, which like a beautiful sheep-fold becomes a place of feeding and watering for our souls. It is tempting to want to stay in the fold all the time, neglecting the needs of those in the other city. Tempting to want the gate closed, so they can't get in, always looking for the food pantry, or the handbags of the choir, or our precious study time. Who was it wrote something along the lines of: "we are a gate outside the gate?" Exactly! Is our Church a place that invites and welcomes people into the City of God, or do we exist only at gatekeepers, jeolously guarding the treasures within? (3)Nobody has commented (or I've missed it) on the possibility that thieves and robbers are within the Church, that is, passing themselves as good shepherds when in fact they only want to steal (money? sex? souls? all the above?) Could you and I be thieves? Are we loyal to the heritage of the Gospel that saved us, or have we substituted another Gospel, another, easier gate, for the sdtory of the Jesus who was crucified and raised from the dead. I recently visited the web-site for a famous church. Page after page of dynamic ministries, helping the poor, righting wrongs, but nowhere, NOWHERE, the name Jesus. (4) We live in both places at the same time, alternating between the Kingdom of Peace and the place of many kingdoms. How do we live as citizens of both at the same time? What can we say to a world of grieving parents and starving refugees that will give them peace? As so many of you have said, and well, we say what we have to say and trust God. Amen. May God bless you all. Boyd in NC. PS: Nail-Bender, where in NC are you? E-mail me at BJHolliday@worldnet.att.net
I spoke to a High School this morning. The principal called a special assembly to address the trajedy of Littleton. I wish more schools would do this. Talk about teaching moments! And yet, what can you really say?
While there are no real complete answers, there are some things that can be learned. Edwin Friedman once mentioned the concept of "reptilian regression." His theory was that in times of stress the brain reverts back to the more primitive, reactionary parts for survival. These are the nodules, similar in size and function to the brain of reptiles.
In some ill or extremely non differentiated people, the nodules continue to dominate though the other parts of the brain continue to function. This results in a personality that can be very intelligent and yet very deadly. Like a reptile, there is no nurture, no humor, cold blooded. Snakes do not make good pets.
These trenchcoat boys are examples of reptilian regression. They were boys who became assasins. How? Surely they were trained. Constant programming from Marilyn Manson, video war games, and who knows what else.
I think that if we were to examine the lifestyles of many of our teens, in some we would discover a recipe for an assasin. Once an assasin is made, all the gun laws in the world cant prevent trajedy.
What we must do is to fight for censure. We must preach that the first commandment be more revered than the first ammendment. The constant bombardment of messages of kill in TV, MOvies, Heavy Metal, and on and on is taking its toll. The frightening behavoir we see is the crop that is planted
Fred from LA
Everybody is right about the Kingdom! Let's look at the Kingdom in three separate ways, as a place, a time and as a condition. It is the same Kingdom, but there are different ways of looking at it. We can see it as three things, A, B and C. A), we can say the Kingdom is a place we want to remain eternally, Heaven. Jesus did say, in John 14, that He went to prepare a place for us. Heaven is that place. Let us look at the Kingdom in a second way, B. Jesus portrayed His Kingdom as a time of His returning to earth. Christ said He would come and establish an earthly Kingdom of God. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus says, "No one knows about that day or hour." There is a third way, C, to view the Kingdom. It is as a condition of our hearts. As Christians, we are citizens of Heaven. In Philippians 3:21 Paul says, "our citizenship is in Heaven." In Luke, Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is within you." So those are three ways we can look at God’s Kingdom. revup
To Rene in Bluff Point:
I briefly served a Lutheran Congregation several miles north of your place there by Keuka Lake. Beautiful country there. One day, however, you might share how "Bluff Point" got its name. It is an interesting little tidbit of American Religious History. RWR in Texas
A teacher at my school had a stroke last Saturday (4/17). He was completely paralyzed on one side when he was taken to the hospital. Last night, he went home with no residual effects, except knowing that he has congestive heart failure and must restrict his sodium and fluid intake. He played pro football for several years in his younger days. He is black. If these two pieces of information help you tell his story, use them.
He told me this story when we were talking about Littleton:
He was travelling to Chicago to pick up his sister and bring her home for a visit. He had the kind of car that had the glove compartment between the two front seats. He kept his gun and his cigarettes there.
He was on some highway outside of Chicago, four lanes with a wide median strip. He was following a car that was going slow and which he decided to pass as they were going up a hill. He started to pull out, but something told him not to pass. He dropped back, and the next thing he knew, a car going the wrong way came over the hill.
He reached in the glove compartment for his gun, but his cigarettes were in the way. "I was going to shoot him out," he said. When he got to Chicago, he gave his gun to his brother-in-law. He says, "It was too easy to reach for that gun. I would have killed him if my cigaretts hadn't gotten in the way. When you have a gun, it does your thinking for you. It's just too easy."
He also noted that the sale of automatic weapons should stop. He said, "If those boys had had six shooters, there would have been damage, but not as bad. They would've only had six shots."
That was before today and the possiblity of accomplises arose, but I think he has a point. I send you these illustrations not for this week's message, but to use when and where you might.
Thanks for all your comments this week. Sometimes, sometimes we must preach faith until by preaching faith we have faith, and then because we have faith, we will preach faith. Preach faith and hope this week folks. Sometimes it, and the love of God in Christ Jesus is all we do have!
RevJan
I'm new to all of this ... and today struggling with what I'm going to say tomorrow .. and discovered this place ...and reading the different contributions feel moved. I have nothing to add to the 'discussion', but want to say thankyou, and I'll be back. RevEv in Bev, England.
I am confused about why this reading is set during the Easter Season. How does this link with the resurrection?
After scolling down all the comments I must say - what an amazing conversation - thank you all for your insights.
My mind is almost too full to focus on this Sunday. The first lesson in the Episcopal lectionary is the stoning of Stephen - so our morning will begin with a tale of violence.
Have learned from some of our parents that younger children have been shielded from the TV reports - yet counselors showed up in the classroom - the parents wished that they had checked with parents to find out what children knew before they attempted to talk to children.
Am amazed, saddened, angry (whatever) at how our society - make that world - now deals with violence. Before all parents had been notified what had happened to their children - the newscasters were there. "Tell me, what is it like to wait to find out if your child is dead?" - a memorial service took place the day after the shooting - I imagine the full impact of what had happened had not really set in - but we now have a way of dealing with this kind of violence (be it airplane explosions or shootings) - in your face newscasters, flowers piled up high in a designated area, immediate memorial services, blaming everyone and anyone -- and then on to the next thing. One young woman (on Thursday morning interview) said how much she appreciated what everyone had done - and I was thinking done? it's not over - the reality of this is just beginning. Of course all the "experts" have been on the talk shows -- pointing fingers at the parents -- who have also had children die - and who may be wondering what went wrong - what had they missed? I have two daughters who have survived high school - their opinion of high school "it sucks" to use the expression of the young. One went to a private school in VA --her best friend was a young woman of color and they were both outcasts among the mostly white students. This daughter said to me on Thursday "you cannot imagine what it is like to have to sit by yourself in the cafeteria - when no one will sit with you - you bring a book and pretend that you are busy - hoping that the lunch time will soon be over - and you have to be there because there is no where else to go. You can't imagine how much you hate (a very strong word) the other students who sneer at you or make comments. Did she tell me all this was going on at the time? No. I think about those two boys (maybe they'll find there were others) - to be so young and give up on life! Yes, Jesus calls us to live abundantly and they were not able to even live.
Friedman talks about leaders being "a non-anxious presence" - the news makes us more anxious rather than trying to wait, reflect, comment - we get it all at the moment - will everything implode after a while because we have all become so anxious?
Why so much violence today? Hasn't it ever been so? What about David's story - takes another man's wife, has her husband killed, his daughter is raped by a half-brother, another brother kills that brother....Sampson....takes a woman, discards her, murders people, her community murders her...and so on...
This Sunday our lessons begin with violence - what can we do to end it? One of our parishioners is going to protest the bombing - joining with some others in front of the UN I think - she is unsure of what she is doing - alittle embarrassed she says -- maybe she doesn't really understand why we are bombing - maybe she shouldn't be protesting - (she has said) BUT maybe we need people to sit between the sides - to put themselves out there to say "killing is wrong" - this is enough -
Don't know if it's true -- only "heard" that those two boys did go to church -
What is our collective responsibility in this? Some radio station person was on the Leeza show Friday (my day off) and he said "his daughter would never be allowed to wear a long black coat" -- "his daughter would never be involved in something like these shootings" - as if his willing her to be what he wants - will make it so. Do we ever really know another person? Do we try? I must admit that as a parent I ask this more and more as my daughters get older. And i wonder - does anyone really know me? Do I let them? Especially in a congregation where (I believe) I can't really be "good friends" with people and remain their pastor.
this is rambling I know - but as I said in the beginning so much to think about - and try to focus on saying something to people on Sunday that will address their needs/questions/hopes/fears
gc in NY
Thank you. The situation in Colorado provided me with a challenge. I knew that I must address the situation, but, was unable to make a connection with the lectionary. Your thoughts have helped. Aside from the many issues that have been discussed I want to address the challenge to faith presented by the situation. I am sure that many in Littleton are asking the question "Where was God?" A simple question that cuts through all of the theological rhetoric around death and redemption. Many I am sure are trying to cope with a significant challenge to their faith. God bless you all as you undertake this awesome responsibility tomorrow. Ripper, Beamsville
I know this is late, but I wanted to answer the question someone asked, which was: "How does this link with the resurrection?" I found the answer in verse 9: "I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." A discription of eternal life!
Brandon in CA
Shalom all -- I don't know if anyone will be back to this site since this is probably one of the last late Saturday night postings... but I just wanted to tell you all that I thank God for this community of faith that ministers to my needs when I'm not sure how or what to proclaim in a painfilled world. I have heard and shared the pathos of many of you struggling with this week's message and response... I just wanted to let you all know that I paused in the midst of my "final touchs" to lift up prayers of thanksgiving and empowerment for each of you. There is still the One True Voice proclaiming a message of peace, love and mercy ... and of life. I pray that we can hear and share that Voice! Blessings my cyber-family -- RevAmy