Easter 4 (part 2)

Lectionary Reading Easter 4 B   3 May

Collect for today. Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of the sinful, give us grace to love what you command and desire what you promise, that in all the changes and chances of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where lasting joys are found: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the Methodist prayer book)

Read. 1Peter 2:19-25 G K Chesterton is reputed to have said, “The Christian ideal has not be tried and found to be wanting. It has found to be difficult and left untried”. As we reflect on this reading from Peter we can see that true Christian living is a very difficult task. To suffer for doing wrong is hard but to suffer when you are in the right or innocent and do it with patience is even more difficult. This is especially true when you add trying to lead a Christian life and so find you are under extra pressure. Sometimes we just let things go because we don’t want to cause offence and at other times our thoughts and actions are just plain unchristian…. And even as I write this I am thinking that is not true in every case: but that’s not the point. There should be no exceptions; the challenge is to live out the Christian life despite the consequences. As we read in Matthew, “be perfect as your father is perfect” but who can achieve that? Peter has that all in hand for the reading goes on to remind us that in Jesus Christ the perfection that we need has been achieved on our behalf for He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25-26 Yes, everything has been done on our behalf, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t try, on the contrary we should try even harder: By doing so, we recognise by our life and action how grateful we are for the wonderful act of endurance and love that Jesus showed. So our goal should not be chastising ourselves for what we do wrong. We need always to keep the love and sacrifice of Jesus in the forefront of our minds as we go though each day and allow that powerful presence to be our guide.

Prayer. In thanks and praise we offer our prayer to you today Lord, thankful for all that you have achieved for us through the ministry of Jesus our Saviour. Grant us wisdom and strength as we choose to walk with you in true obedience to our plan and purpose for us. May every day be for us a chance to live in harmony with you. As we reflect on our lives we see much that is in need of your correction, may the powerful action of the cross touch each part of us, bringing both healing and renewal. May our lives be lived in constant praise of you as we glory in the love you have shown through Jesus, Lord and Saviour. Amen

Read. John 10:1-10  In each of the four gospels the concept of Jesus as shepherd is highlighted and as a shepherd taking on the total responsibility for the sheep is fundamental.  In biblical tradition shepherd and king are linked together for the shepherd-king protects and cares for the whole sheep flock. In Zechariah 11 the “good shepherd” is paid off (betrayed) for thirty pieces of silver and the sheep are left to their fate. Here in John, the emphasis is that the sheep are to be cared for and protected in contrast to the evil shepherds who come to the sheep only to exploit them. Jesus as the true shepherd comes in through the gate which is opened for him by the gatekeeper. This shepherd does not come by devious means or ill intentions. In other words this shepherd, Jesus, is the one who is authorised to lead the sheep for the gate has been opened by another.

As the established true leader the metaphor in the reading is changed and Jesus has now become the gate which opens and the sheep are lead into a full and safe life. Jesus is not one who drives the sheep but calls them by name and they in turn follow on in obedience. There is something in the call that resinates with the sheep and following leads to security and peace. Though the reading sees the sheep in the sheepfold, which is a protective enclosure it is clear that the sheep do not stay only in the confines of the fold: No, they are free to come and go out into life, to find fulfilment in life. While always under the protection of the shepherd there is no sense that life is in any way limited, rather through the care of the Shepherd life in all its fullness becomes available. It is the experience of every Christian that following Jesus does not close one off from life but opens up the true excitement that life affords.

Prayer: In thanks and praise we offer our prayer to you today Lord God, thankful for all that you have achieved for us through the ministry of Jesus our Saviour. Grant us wisdom and strength as we choose to walk with him in true obedience to your plan and purpose for us. May every day be for us a chance to live in harmony with you and with each other. As we reflect on our lives we see much that is in need of your correction, may the powerful action of the cross touch each part of us, bringing both healing and renewal. May our lives be lived in constant praise of you, as we glory in the love you have shown through Jesus, Lord and Saviour, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Amen