I was once asked to be part of a panel for a college class -- it was one of those community flareups on certain books in public libraries and whether they belonged on the shelves, and whether teachers should have permission to require their students to read those books. We struggled while the argument followed the free speech/censorship battle lines. Then I remembered something from my own college days, in communications theory class.
Basically, no one can know everything about everything -- we are not capable of receiving all the information that is out there, in all the forms it comes to us. By design and necessity, we form our own "gates" for receiving information (readily observed in that we are all born with the capacity to speak any language and to make all vocal sounds, but after a certain age we lose that ability -- and yet can still speak one language very well). How we interpret the world, and the information that we do take in, is determined by what comes through our "gates." The discussion began in earnest when we recognized that teachers are by necessity "gatekeepers" responsible for what comes into their class room, since no one can teach everything to everyone all the time.
Jesus is the gate by which we are to understand the world. We are the gatekeepers of the kingdom, and we either bring the people in through the gate/Jesus, or we are thieves and bandits. We lead our people out into the world through Jesus, or they are stuck in the sheepfold, where they will either starve, cut off from the green pastures and still waters; or overwhelm us as we try to keep them hand-fed.
OLAS
Thank you, OLAS, that helps! Got me started in a direction about authentic faith/life and true love...
LaLuz in Texas
I am going to add the text with feed my sheep to this too. We are celebrating two big missional finacial goal acheived. I am making sheep ears for the kids,(headbands, cotton balls and hot glue.) I am going to try to have the children's sermon be the start of the adult sermon and flow from one to another. DS here to hear me preach that day so please pray, I will be nervous. Nancy-WI
we all have the job of tending the sheep. the question is do we see our selves as a hireling or as the one who's wellbeing is really tied with the sheep? Manzel
Nancy, I know the feeling about having the DS show up.
I can't find or remember exactly the preache and the king, someone else help us out.
Before he stepped into the pulpit, someone from the vestry told the preacher, The King is listening!
He came into the pulpit, and repeated the words.
Then he said his own name, and said, God Is listening.
[It worked for me, I then asked the DS to pray for me as we tried to listen to God together.]
[I will be praying for you Sunday}
WD in NC
Thank you OLAS for the thoughts about "gatekeepers". In the Uniting church that has a fairly negative connotation, normally used to refer to the power-players of the church, but maybe I can rescue it. I like the idea that we are gatekeepers of the Kingdom.
However, I have a couple of questions about this text. The part that I love is verse 10, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Yet the image is of a fairly narrow way - where is the "life-giving" word for our congregations and communties?
I am also pondering about who are the thieves and bandits? Are they the Pharisees? In which case, this is intrinsically linked the image of blindness (in 9:40 and 10:21) and maybe their inability to see God's grace and hence they've misled the people with their misunderstanding of God's law???
There seems to be a very thin line between the word of grace/life here and a word of judgement.
Rob in Australia
Does anybody else see this passage as a vehicle to talk about the current clergy sex scandals in the Catholic church (though they exist in all denominations, the media's just focusing on the RC's)?? -- Mike in Maryland
I am preparing to do a semon for a preaching class on this text and I checked the previous discussions. I would highly recommend those past entries as the week they were written were in the week of the Columbine High shootings. During the coverage of that horrible event I was in the delivery room of a hospital giving birth to my now nearly three year old daughter. God sends new life even in the midst of tragedy. Life more abundantly even when the thieves try to destroy hope and life. God Bless! I will be ready in a couple of weeks for my sermon thanks to my professor.
Marci in the Mountains of Arkansas
Erik in KS,
As often as I can I make a retreat to a small benedictine Roman Catholic monastery outside of Elmira, New York. The brothers are shepherds, they raise hundreds of sheep. They have a few sheepdogs (I love that image from Fr. Charles Taylor), but the monks have a new hireling .... a donkey .. a jackass (now there is truly my symbol. The donkey heards, leads, protects, the individual sheep as well as the heard from young wolves, etc. It is truly amazing to see a small heard resting in a field with a jackass resting beside them, and when it is time to move on, the jackass gets up, snorts, kicks, and off they go.
So there you have it an image for the church's mission.
tom in ga
Erik in KS,
As often as I can I make a retreat to a small benedictine Roman Catholic monastery outside of Elmira, New York. The brothers are shepherds, they raise hundreds of sheep. They have a few sheepdogs (I love that image from Fr. Charles Taylor), but the monks have a new hireling .... a donkey .. a jackass (now there is truly my symbol. The donkey heards, leads, protects, the individual sheep as well as the heard from young wolves, etc. It is truly amazing to see a small heard resting in a field with a jackass resting beside them, and when it is time to move on, the jackass gets up, snorts, kicks, and off they go.
So there you have it an image for the church's mission.
tom in ga
tom in ga ... I think I got the point (4x) ... lol
You wrote: "It is truly amazing to see a small heard resting in a field with a jackass resting beside them, and when it is time to move on, the jackass gets up, snorts, kicks, and off they go. -- So there you have it an image for the church's mission."
And of the clergy?
Another wonderful image for the assisting animal is the llama. Sheepherders in my native Nevada have started using them as guard animals -- they seem to be fearless. I preached a sermon on First Lent 1999 about this entitled "Be a Llama for Lent". In it I wrote, "I don't know if llamas are dumber than sheep or smarter, but whichever, llamas don't appear to be afraid of anything. When they see something, they put their head up and walk straight toward it. That is aggressive behavior as far as the coyote is concerned, and they won't have anything to do with that... Coyotes are opportunists, and llamas take that opportunity away."
Blessings, Eric in KS
PS to tom in ga -- there is no "K" in "Eric" -- only the benighted Scandinavians spell it that way. ;-)
Knowing the voice of the shepherd is a means of voluntary sorting; several herds of sheep could stay together in a commons area and instead of shepherds trying to drive sheep and seperate them individually a shepherd would start out, call his sheep and they sorted themselves. Therefore trying to claim this scripture as authority for playing the roll of gatekeeper is an image of forcefulness and is contraty to the image in the parable.
Like the image of the sheep dog and the jackass! Sometimes I am one, more often I am the ass.
The references to sexual abuse applies to the theives and the bandits; they rob the innocence of the trusting fold. I have been dealing with clergy sexual misconduct in almost all my appointments, and it makes me weep at all the pain this has caused in so many lives for so long!
I think the image of the shepherd being Jesus is right on, we may attempt to follow this model but we are not finally the shepherd of the flock. I also agree that when we see the folks of the church as sheep we dehumanize them and discount their gifts, graces and talents. Been thinking of a title like "Sheep Doggie Dog" ( but maybe wrong image!?
A W-G rocky coast Me
A simple 86.86 metre hymn if anyone would like to use it. Blessings, Petereo.
When strangers yell or thieves deceive
You wonder who you’ll trust
Jesus the shepherd calms our fear
He's gentle and he's just.
As shepherd watching over us
He calls each one by name
His voice is all we need to hear
For that is why he came.
A gate will keep the flock as one
We’ll find that peace is there
Though danger lurk outside the walls
We’re nurtured by his care.
“I am the gate. Draw near through me.”
Our Lord his arms so wide
Enfolds us in his saving love
And gives us hope inside.
Are we pastors hirelings? Here's a relevant quote to the question: "He who serves God for money will serve the devil for higher wages." (I've known it so long I've forgotten who said it!)
John in VA
I find it of interest that even in using the shepherd-as-gate metaphor Jesus stands the common understanding on its head. He says that his sheep will enter through him ("the gate"), but the common practice of Middle Eastern shepherds of being "the gate" of their sheepfolds was to prevent the sheep from going through. Sheepfolds (a sort of corral) were built of stone with one opening. At night the sheep would be herded inside and then the shepherd would make his bed in the opening. The sheep would not step over him to leave, nor would strange animals do so to enter. Thus, the shepherd-gate was a barrier, not an entry. Thus, verse 9 is another of Jesus's "reversals" of the usual order of things.
Blessings, Eric in KS
I am a bit confused! As I read this passage, I can not find Jesus refering to himself as the Shephard in it. He calls himself the gate keeper. Is a gate keeper the same as a shephard? if so why do the vs "The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep". Doesn't this make anyone who enter the shephard too! How many shephard's to a flock here. Who then are the sheep. I am really tired so maybe all this will make sense after a nap!
all enlightenment is welcome. Nancy-WI
Nancy -
I think yes. He's speaking allegorically, of course - which, come to think of it, is unusual for him to do without saying "I am the shepherd" like "I am the light," according to John.
I read a commentary (can't remember which, I'm breezing through on the way to my tax preparer's - ugh) that suggests ONLY Jesus is the shepherd, the gate keeper. The shepherd would lie down over the opening or gateway when there wasn't a literal gate in order to tend the flocks, according to this commentary. The suggestion in THIS commentary is that it is potentially dangerous that we, "entrusted with Word and Sacrament," (as another commentator suggests) equate ourselves with being the shepherd, or gatekeeper.
So, there's the fly in the ointment - and I'm off to do taxes. Fortunately, this will be the last year they have to be all screwed up: my new church has a treasurer who knows what she's doing!!! yay!
Where I am this week: our conference is preparing to do a service of racial reconciliation. While I have my own opinions, I know that they're different from the opinions of many of my congregants. I also am caucasian speaking to a dual-ethnic congregation and don't want to be condescending or condemning to anyone. Any suggestions? Am I asking for the world and a song? This is where the rubber hits the road in my own leadership.
Sorry for rambling ... off to taxes ...
Sally in GA
I have never been able to preach these 'sheep' passages without remembering something a farmer said to me one Sunday. After preaching a lovely sermon about 'Jesus the shepherd', my farmer came up to me after worship and said, "You know pastor, the one thing you left out was that sheep are as dumb as posts."
It changes one's perspective as we read that Jesus was calling us a flock of sheep!
TB in MN
No nap yet, but a thoughtful drive to town to mail the 1st quarterly payment! Sheep must have been very valuable to the culture. They provided wool, meat, maybe milk, skins for covering(maybe tents) and bones (for needles?) So to be a shephard while not an outstanding profession, had to be important. Right or wrong?
Sally, is the reconcillation for the wrongs of the past or present or both? Have you been given any liturgy? The Gifts of Many Cultures has some good stuff in it. Nancy-Wi
Sally just an afterthought my book is not here but sometimes some of Joyce Rupp's stuff might help. Nancy-Wi
Hello, I think I am going to Concentrate of Peter next Sunday... But I like your ideas, Well, GOd's ideas actually... My Liturgist will read the Gospel Lesson, I may tie in some gleanings.... Title of my sermon "Coming Home" And describing what coming home means here on earth to differ people child, teen, young adult, elder... I reflect on that Theologian- Forrest Gump for wisdom, in the scene where Jenny throws rock at her girlhood home--and abuse was there at a dad's hands. "Sometimes there's just not enough rocks!" We have been bruised, wounded, hurt physical, mentally, emotionally and that effects our spirit---Peter passage reminds us Jesus was abuse and said nothing! ON earth their may not be enough rocks, However, we a the Great Rock to turn to and He can fix things! On Christ the Solid rock I Stand, On Christ the solid rock I can---overcome! It matters not where you come from or what you did... Like Last week's passage said Believe ,repent and be baptized and recieve! ( I think knowing this helps us with RC priest sex scandel, too.) Christ took the abuse and died and arose for all of us...prositutes, rich poor, politicans, regular joes, and HE even died for Arafat, and Bin Laden...all they have to do is accept!!! Ladypreacher in OHIO--- BLESSINGS NANCY IN WI DS a coming.... Keep me in prayer Apr 28th I get to be a visiting pastor and preach in my HOME Church...so this Coming Home Theme....is making me mediate on next week message...
Jesus may think of us a sheep ("dumb as posts"), but the lectionary committee has great respect not only for our memories but also for the regularity of our attendance (although it apparently has some doubts about our attention span!). We read John 10 in thirds: the beginning in Year A, the middle in Year B, and the end in Year C, all on 4 Easter. It's in verse 11 (NEXT year's reading) that he says "I am the good shepherd."
Betty in NY and Tom in GA - (Off topic) I visited your monastery a couple of years ago while a guest of Don Hoff whom I met on dps - consider yourself invited to visit him - Riverside United Methodist Church in Elmira. Well, who am I to invite you? The border collie, of course - I have this compulsion to nip heels until all the dps-ers mill about in one corrall.
Back on topic: Let's be careful not to over-allegorize this passage, lest some of us wind up as lamb chops.
I could use some help with the 1 Peter passage - for some reason I chose it as my text for a sermon in a friend's church. Come on over ..
kbc in sc
Nancy-WI ... about your question about who's the shepherd if Jesus is the gate/gatekeeper -- Herbert O'Driscoll in his three-vol. set of books for the readings of Year A "The Word Among Us" writes thusly about this pericope:
"In this gospel passage, John is recalling Jesus' description of those who hold responsibiity for the leadership of God's people. They are genuine in their motivation for leadership; their primary concern is the people under their care. In our Lord's language they enter _by the gate [because they are] the shepherd of the sheep_. Such a leader can be trusted and followed, and knows people as individuals: _he calls his own sheep by name_. However, the community must beware of fals leaders who arise this a _thief_ or _bandit_. They come _only to steal and kill and destroy_. They use their leadership as a means to power and influence for themselves. True followers, like true sheep, can distinguish the genuine leader from the false. Towards the end of the passage John makes the offer that Christian faith holds out to those who, following the true leader, embrace it. They _will be saved_ and _find pasture_ (nurture) ... _they [will] have life, and have it abundantly_."
O'Driscoll, Herbert, "The Word Among Us", Year A, Vol. 2, Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 1999, page 77.
I still don't like talking about parish clergy as "shepherds", however. (And even less do I like thinking of us as "hirelings" -- nobody in their right mind would do this for the money!)
Blessings, Eric in KS
Greetings! It's been a while since I've been in this discussion group. The church I was serving closed last fall (some of you may recall), but I have been given another assignment. Again, the church is struggling (aren't they all?), but I believe this patient will pull through ... with more help from God than me, of course. At any rate, I've told them to "Burn The Ships" and head out on a "Vision Quest." I thought I knew where I was going this week, but after hitting this board beleive I'm now being lead otherwise. I like what I'm gleaning from this passage: The picture of the shepherd as one who lays in front of the door (lays down his life) to keep the sheep in, while keeping the world and its sin out ("My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one." John 17:15) The image of the pastor as sheepdog rather than shepherd is marvelous. How about an image of the Holy Spirit as the "gatekeeper?" Just now getting into all of this and only God knows where it will go. Thanks!
PastorBuzz
Some early thoughts:
Verses 11-14 feel like vital pieces to 1-10, I don't see how I can preach 1-10 without 11-14.
Jesus is the good shepherd, that's a given. Church leaders who serve the Lord are allowed into the gate, making them part of Jesus' flock too.
Those who falsely claim church authority (leadership) sneak in; they are to be recognized and ignored. Primarily because it is only the good shepherd's voice that the flock (should) listen too (distractions happen but we must return to the master's voice).
For church leaders, don't we assist, the sheepdog image works, but wouldn't the sheepdogs lie at the gate(keeping watch over their flock by night)((sorry)) with the shepherd also?
I have an image of a church where the "churchleaders", a.e. our congregations, have gathered to worship at the altar,(the church/the gate with Jesus) to be encouraged, praised, and reassured by the shepherd for work well done and yet to be done. What a wonderful sense of comfort the hard working sheepdogs must recieve when they rest at the side of the master and receive a pat on the head and a gently spoken, "Well done good and faithful servant."
As churchleaders do we not rest with the good shepherd also, but yet constantly have a wary eye on those who have slipped in?
FYI-- We use to live in Idaho where sheep are abundant. When you pet a sheep's wool, which has lanolin, the oil gets on your hands. It is a soothing lotion for those who have rough dry hands from the arid climate of the west. Soooo As the flock which belongs to Jesus, should not our presence be soothing, healing, etc. to those who have been left rough and sore from the enviroment of the secular world? Maybe that's a stretch for this passage, but file it away under 'trivial'.
Well, I told you they were early thoughts. Thanks for the entrys for this weeks text, they are very interesting and helpful, as usual. God Bless LB in NC
One of my commentaries (sorry, don't have it with me so I can't give you the reference) had something to say about Jesus as both gate and shepherd that I find helpful. "There are two ways of viewing Jesus, as the Door and as the Good Shepherd. As the Door He is the one way of entrance to salvation. As the Good Shepherd He is the One who cares for the sheep and provides for their salvation at the cost of His life." Jesus is the one who shows the way and is the way.
Steph in SD
10:9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
How do I enter? What must I do to be saved? I hunger for green pastures! I seek the Lord. Where do I enter?
tom in ga
I'm just about to finish up my 7th year of service and even in that relatively short time I've been accused of being one of the "thieves," and I've also discouraged others whom I thought were "thieves" from taking too strong a leadership role, one time with difficult ramifications.
Isn't it interesting how easy it is for us to draw the gate around sheep and how we always include ourselves "inside" the gate and not as one of the wolves or thieves? While at the same time someone else is drawing themselves inside and us outside?
food for thought ...
Sally in GA
