Easter 3 + Misericordias Domini

Text: John: 10:11-16

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Today is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, hence the Gospel reading. The first image that probably comes to your mind today is that of Jesus carrying a little lamb upon His shoulders or safely within His arms, as you can see on the bulletin cover.

Yet, I don’t care for this image of Jesus much.

These words of mine must be scandalous to your ears, aren’t they?

But it’s true, and here’s why.

The life of a shepherd is full of danger. A true shepherd goes into the wildernesses of life with their sheep.

He stays awake and on guard while the lambs sleep. He’s constantly preparing for the next battle, the next encounter with the wolf, who desires nothing more than a pound of flesh from the shepherd’s flock.

This is a tiring and challenging life. When the shepherd goes out for one of His sheep to bring it home, he, too, is returning from an engagement with the enemy.

So, no, I would prefer to see my shepherd a little more battle-tested, a little worse for the wear, because His actions and life must reveal His great love for me.

You see, one of the things we must also wrestle with is the reality that there would not have to be “good” shepherds if there were not also shepherds who are called “bad.”

For this reason, you must listen to the voice of the good and faithful shepherd so that you are not led into danger and distress.

You must listen to the voice of the good and faithful shepherd so that you do not become scattered and depart the good pasture He provides for you.

But this is the challenge. Today, there are many alluring voices, many wolves who wish to snatch you from the tender care of the Good Shepherd. But make no mistake, who the true enemy is…

One church father wrote regarding the great enemy of Christ this way,

There is another wolf that ceaselessly, every day, tears apart minds, not bodies. This is the evil spirit that goes about attacking the sheepfolds of believers, seeking the death of souls. Of this wolf it is said, “And the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep.” The wolf comes, and the hireling flees. The evil spirit tears apart the minds of believers in temptation, and the one holding the place of shepherd does not take responsibility. Souls are perishing, and he enjoys earthly advantages. The wolf snatches and scatters the sheep when he entices one to drunkenness, inflames another with greed, exalts another by pride, destroys another by anger, stirs one up by envy, trips up another by deceit. When the devil slays believers through temptations, he is like a wolf dispersing the flock. No zeal rouses the hireling against these temptations, no love excites him. He seeks only the outward advantages and carelessly allows the inward injury to his flock. (Gregory the Great)

So, who are the hirelings? Who are these terrible and selfish men?

Throughout history, they have been thought of as the bishops and pastors of the Church, those who have become shepherds in name only, those seeking outward rewards and accolades.

Another challenge for the hireling is that he is a hired hand; he needs to remain faithful and confident in the Good Shepherd. Instead, like so many, he looks to the money and mammon of this world.

Reflect on how the Scribes and Pharisees treated Jesus and how they put traditions and self-preservation above all, even to the point of killing Jesus. Or think how the priests of the Roman Catholic Church were not caring for their sheep, especially throughout the time of the Reformation, but instead, taking the money of their people through false words, false doctrine, and teachings to build their cathedrals. Or today, as so-called “pastors” fill the internet with catchy videos and share-worthy memes that never truly confess the voice of Jesus Himself. 

A grave concern here is that these hirelings, like the one in our Gospel this morning, have not been battle-tested; in fact, they have avoided and not been faithful to their training to guard and protect the sheep entrusted to them, and they have never been willing to risk entering the dark places of this life where the evil one, the wolf, resides for you, the sheep.

In other words, these hirelings have yet to be willing to follow the path of the Good Shepherd.

So, who is this Good Shepherd willing to lay down His life for you? It’s none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

The one who entered this world and traveled this valley of the shadow of death for you. While the sheep of His fold scattered from Him as He hung in the darkness of Good Friday’s cross, it’s here that His arms remained stretched forth to gather His Church into His tender care. With the words, “It is finished,” the voice of the Good Shepherd calls you unto Him—for in His death, He has defeated your death.

And by His rising, you now receive life and good pasture to graze upon.

What does this pasture look like? Well, you’re in it now.

Jesus said before our Gospel reading this morning, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10: 7)

So, to enter the good pasture, one must hear the voice of the Shepherd; one must listen to the voice of Jesus and know Him. This occurs as one enters the Church through the waters of Holy Baptism – this imagery can be seen historically as baptismal fonts were placed at the entrance of a church, serving as the gate through which the little lambs of Christ were brought into the flock.

In this way, the sheep continue to learn and know the familiar voice of their Shepherd as a child knows their parent so that they wouldn’t be allured away or scatter when difficulties, temptations, or challenges arise.

Why?

They know the voice of the Shepherd, the one who protects them, cares for them and comes after them.

So, how do you continue to know the voice of the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for you? You continue to be among the sheep of His fold, you continue to come and hear the Word of God as often as it is read and proclaimed, and you come to receive the food of immortality here in the Lord’s Supper.

Why?

Because you have a Good Shepherd, one who left His home for you, one who in humility went and battled the wolf and defeated him by the laying down of His life for you upon the cross.

Think about that; that’s the kind of Shepherd you should want—one willing to go to battle for you, one willing to die for you. In fact, you cannot think or imagine the cross without seeing Jesus upon it; you cannot imagine your Savior without the battle scars of the nails upon His hands and feet, nor the place where His side was pierced.

Why?

Because Christ Jesus is a faithful Shepherd, He is, in fact, the Good Shepherd, your Shepherd.

This is the image of the Good Shepherd I wish to see. One where the battle-tested, tired, and worn body of Jesus now carries you His lamb into the heavenly pasture He has prepared for you.

So, my friends, listen to His voice, learn it, and know it as you read the Scriptures. Then look and see how His cross reveals His deep love for you, His sheep, and be led by it, as it is the rod and staff that not only leads but comforts you this day. +INJ+