Easter 4, 2020

Sermon Notes, Easter 4, 2020 Psalm 23 Coverdale revised edition 1 The Lord is my shepherd; * therefore I can lack nothing. 2 He shall feed me in green pastures * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. 3 He shall refresh my soul * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, * for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 5 You shall prepare a table before me, in the presence of those who trouble me; * you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. 6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Good Shepherd Sunday. We reflect on Jesus as our shepherd, the one who walks with us, leads us, protects us, cares for us, abides with us. Out of all the metaphors Jesus could have used to describe his relationship with his people, he chose this one, of a good shepherd. Although the metaphor may be archaic to us, the sense of that relationship is still powerful and compelling. We are drawn into that relationship just as the voice of the good shepherd draws his sheep close to him. While cruising the internet this week I came across a short sermon delivered by Bp. Todd Atkinson to the College of Bishops in January of this year. His text was the 23rd Psalm. You can find it on YouTube, AnglicanchurchNA, and I would recommend you to look it up this week, and watch and listen as Bp. Atkinson opens up this Psalm. I’m relying on some of his insights for this reflection today. Bp. Atkinson places the 23rd Psalm in its historical setting as the shepherd of Israel, David, speaking of his own shepherd, the Lord. David, who well knows the demands of the shepherd, needs and relies on his own shepherd. In many ways, Psalm 23 is a confessional psalm because David admits so many of his shortcomings, fears, inadequacies even as he finds peace and strength in the shepherding of the Lord. He confesses to knowing want. He confesses to being afraid. He confesses to needing direction in his life. He confesses to being oppressed. And most tellingly he confesses to having his soul hurt. To each of these the good shepherd responds in a unique way that lifts David up, sets him on his feet again, along the right path, with courage and joy. David knows the voice of his shepherd, just as Jesus says all of his sheep know his voice. The words may be unique to each situation, but the message is the same: Be not afraid. Follow me. Come see what I have prepared for you. As I envisioned Bp. Atkinson speaking to the College of Bishops in January, I couldn’t help but acknowledge how much the world has changed since then. We truly are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And I’m led to believe that the shadow of death is larger and more threatening that death itself. Death has come to some, maybe to some we know and love. But the fear of death, the shadow of death, falls across everyone. It’s against the shadow of death that we construct the rules of social distancing, economic shutdowns, hording, sequestration, and the ugly call to rat out on our neighbors who don’t comply with the governor’s recommendations. If there’s a loss of liberty in all of this, it’s to the shadow of death. It’s a desperate situation for sure, unless the good shepherd is out there with us. Listen to what Jesus offers in defending his sheep from the shadow of death. “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” We’re not nameless statistics in a world of percentages. We have a name, and he knows us by name. What matters to him is not what may happen to us but who we are. By our name he calls us out to follow him. He knows the peace we seek and he knows and wants to take us there. He’s always done this. The situation hasn’t created the good shepherd. He’s been shepherding his people through plagues, crises, and persecutions since long before the time of David. It’s the story he has to tell us in the Bible. Trust him. He’s as dependable today as he was then. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” He collects us into a single abiding believing church and he leads that church. The world’s uncertainty: when will it end? What’s going to be the new normal? To these questions the church says look to Jesus. He it is who says do not be concerned about what you will wear or what you will eat. He who attends to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field will certainly care for you. The end of time is in his hand. So is all the in between time. When we hear his voice we don’t flinch, we follow. “They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” What confidence Jesus has in us. This shepherding relationship is a mutual love fest. Just as we follow and trust him, so does he lead and trust us. Trusts us to not be misled. Trusts us to be wary, on our guard. I don’t know much about sheep but we have a new herd of cows in my neighbor’s pasture. The first afternoon in their new field something spooked one of the herd and he took off running to the opposite end of the pasture. Every other cow kicked up their heels and followed him. If it was truly something threatening, the whole herd escaped to safety because the one did. Jesus trusts the church to identify danger and run from it. He gave its leaders, not just the ordained ones but all her leaders, the wisdom to test the times against the word of God. Where the times defy the word, run. Run away. The church will follow and many not of the church will also follow and so the church will be strengthened against even greater threats. Today the shadow of death falls even across the church. We’re not allowed to gather in worship. It seems as though the fear of death is stronger than the call to follow Jesus. Speaking to the church of his day, Peter says that’s OK. It’s alright to honor Caesar when Caesar demands it. But don’t be misled into thinking that Caesar is God, he’s not. Honor Caesar, but live as servants of God for that is who we are. Servants of God in obedient relationship with the good shepherd. His goodness and mercy is upon us even in the shadow of death. Amen.