Feeling Lost and Alone

Sermon-Year B-7 Easter May 24, 2009
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
I haven’t told a sabbatical story in a while-you’re overdue. I was beginning my first day of walking St. Cuthbert’s Way in Scotland, Kyle, my son had left, and I was alone. I took off walking-got lost, it began to rain, and there was nothing but steep hills in front of me. It was interesting. Anyway, after a while the sun came out, I made it to the top of the first hill, and somehow I got back on the right path. And then I met two English women. They rescued me. I called them my angels. And for the next several hours, til late in the day, we walked together and had a lot of fun. And I began to think, “maybe I can do this after all.” Thanks to them. They set a fast pace, which, it turned out, was necessary considering the distance. They made sure I didn’t get lost. And they were wonderful company. And then, I had to stop at my B&B for the night-and they went on. And after walking 18 miles the first day, and being really tired, I said good bye to my new friends. And I felt worse than before. I had 5 days and 50 miles of long walks ahead of me, no one to walk with, and I had this propensity for taking the wrong path. I was worried. And a little scared. I was 2 weeks into a 3 month sabbatical, in a foreign country, I was alone and for the most part, lost.
Today is the last Sunday of Easter. It’s been 6 weeks, 43 days since Easter Sunday. According to the Book of Acts, on the 40th day, last Thursday Jesus ascended into heaven-and left his followers, his friends to go to heaven. It was a sad moment for Jesus’ closest companions. In the book of Acts, you hear how the disciples decided that one of the first things that they had to do was build their number back up to 12, now that Judas was gone. And so they rolled dice to see who would get the honor of being a disciple-and ultimately, a martyr.
Make no mistake about it, when Jesus left his friends-they were alone, uncertain, and helpless. They didn’t know what to do, where to go, or who to be. I’ve been there. Many times in my life. It doesn’t matter how many times I have been rescued-I always think, “oh no, I’m in it, now.” And they must have felt that way, too.
In today’s gospel, Jesus is giving his friends his last advice. Remember how last week I told you that chapters 13-17 in the gospel of John were known as “The long sermon” It takes place at the Last Supper, and Jesus gives this long rambling, teaching on his last night on earth. Basically, he’s asking God to take care of his friends. Just like you or I would, if we thought we were leaving those we love. But he asks God for more than that-he asks that they be one, unified, together, one body. He asks his father that they be full of joy. He pleads with God, that he protect them from all that is evil in the world, and finally, Jesus says God, I am putting them out there-just as you put me out. How hard that had to be for Jesus. Sure, praying for protection, joy, defending them from evil-all this sounds normal. All this is what you or I may write in a letter to friends before leaving them. But Jesus says to God I am sending them into the world-like you sent me. No wonder Jesus is closing with this fervent prayer for protection. His friends will be following him, going down the same path, expecting much the same consequences as he.
You understand, Jesus knows that his life is near an end. He knows that he will be confronting the powers the next day. He knows what may happen. And he asks that they, the people he loves, be sent to do the same thing he is being asked to do. Does this sound, um, odd, to you? Can you imagine turning to your family, the people you are closest to in the world, and as you are dying, and praying that they go your same life, do the same things you did? Jesus wants them to follow him-even if it means all the way to death. We know that 11 of the 12 disciples, including Matthias, all died martyr’s deaths.
This is Jesus closing prayer. Protect them, fill them with joy, give them power, and may they be sent into the world as I was. This last night of Jesus’ life, the disciples, these friends, had no idea what Jesus was talking about. They didn’t know that he would be dying the next day. They had to reconstruct this prayer years later after everything had happened. But that night of the Last Supper, they were at the end of 3 years of talking, teaching, walking together.
How often have you felt lost? How often have you felt alone? Really alone? How often have you felt like you’re in a foreign land, friendless, and you were unsure which way to go? That’s the Sunday after the Ascension. Jesus has left his friends for the final time. First he died. Then came Easter, and his risen presence with them for 40 days. And now they are alone. Again. And they have to face a future, without their companion, without their guide, without their friend. They must have felt even more abandoned than they had after the crucifixion.
To me, Ascension Sunday has always been one of the saddest days of the church year-like Palm Sunday and Good Friday-because it’s all about leaving, it’s all about good bye. We’ve all been there: uncertain, lost, alone. That’s what this day, for me, has always been. The people/person we depended on are/is gone. For me, today has always been a time in between-a time of waiting. Jesus leaves and his friends wonder, “what’s next?”
And often in our lives, we face the same question. And today we end with Jesus praying for those he loves, “protect them, guard them, fill them with joy-and send them into the unknown.” This is where we end today, and where we often are in our lives. It’s the end of the first day of a long trip. But it’s only the first day. Amen.
John 17:6-19
17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;
17:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.
17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
17:12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.
17:13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.
17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
17:15 I am not asking you to take them=2 0out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.
17:16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
17:18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Acts 1:15-26
15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16“Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17for he was numbered20among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseer.’ 21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23So they proposed two, Joseph calle d Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
1 John 5:9-13
9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.
10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Put the Big Rocks In First

Sermon-Year B-6 Easter May 17, 2009
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
The story is told about Steven Covey, (the management consultant and author-the 7 Habits guy) who was teaching a course on ‘Time Management’ to a group of company employees. In front of him on a table was a large bowl, and next to the bowl was a pile of several large rocks, and two buckets. He proceeded to take the large rocks one by one, and place them into the bowl. Having done that, he turned his attention to one of the buckets which contained a quantity of smaller pebbles. He placed the pebbles into the bowl, along with the large rocks, so that the pebbles fell down into the spaces between the rocks. He did all of this without saying a word, and then paused.
By this time, the students in the class were beginning to see what he was doing. He asked if anyone knew what he would do next. Someone suggested that the other bucket might contain some sand. Sure enough, it did, and he continued by pouring the sand from the second bucket into the large bowl until the sand reached the top. Some of the students were about ready to hear what profound lesson he would teach them from this simple demonstration, but he had not quite finished. He took one of the buckets, filled it with water from a tap at the front of the room, and poured water into the large bowl until it was just about to overflow.
He then stopped, and asked the question that the class were waiting for. “What lesson about time management can we learn from all of this,” he asked.
After a pause, one student raised her hand, and said. “I think it teaches us that it is amazing how much you can fit into the time that you have”
Steven Covey smiled and said “That’s pretty much the opposite of what I want you to learn from this. Actually, what it teaches me is the importance of putting the big rocks in first!”
Putting the big rocks in first. Seems simple, doesn’t it?
If you try to put the little rocks, or sand or water in first, there will be no room for the big rocks. To fill up the bucket, you have to put the big rocks in first.
Our lives are like the buckets. So often I try to fill my life up with the sand or the water or the little rocks-and have no room for the important stuff.
The gospel story continues today with Jesus still in the upper room, still giving his final teaching to his friends, the night before he dies. He’s trying to put in the big rocks. One of the rocks is this-calling them to be his disciples was easy. For them, living out their lives as his friends will be murder. I under stand this in a much lesser degree. I am currently trying to resurrect friendships from decades ago. It was easy to make friends-maintaining friends, sustaining friendships, that has been very hard. Making friends is easy-keeping friendships takes a lot of work.
Jesus, in a sense, is releasing his disciples. He’s telling them that now they can choose which way they go in life. They don’t have to be his followers any longer. Now they are grown ups-not children, and they can decide as friends which direction they take. BUT, and it is a big but, if they are going to be his friends, they will have to live out his commandment. His one and only commandment. They will have to choose to put this one rock in the bucket first. They will have to love one another.
“There is an ancient legend about the last days of John the Evangelist, the gospel writer. He lived to a great age and became so feeble that he had to be carried to meetings of the faithful. There, because of his weakness, he was unable to give a long sermon, so at each gathering he simply repeated the words, “Little children, love one another.” The disciples, weary of hearing the same words over and over, asked him why he never said anything else. And to them John gave this answer, “Do this alone and it is enough.”
How often do you measure your life? How successful you are, how much you have achieved? I tend to think we do it every day. I think in small ways we are constantly looking at our buckets to see how full they are. Sometimes we judge by how secure we feel, or how healthy or maybe by how much we have-perhaps how happy we are, or the amount of accomplishments . I think we spend a lot of our lives trying to fill our buckets, or assessing them. Jesus tells his friends, the only thing that will matter is how much you love. And I think there is one more thing that Jesus leaves UNSAID: -he doesn’t say that what we are willing to die for will show what we really care about. He doesn’t say it, but I think he implies. What we are willing to die for, he tells us, is what matters. Or better yet, what we are willing to live our lives for, will say what we really value. Jesus is getting ready to leave his friends, and he wants them to ask what they want in their buckets.
This reading today is pretty clear, 17”I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. “
I was the chaplain on call this week, and we had a particularly sad death. Back at the fire station I was meeting with the firefighters and police officers who had been at the scene. You have to understand that these people are rescuers, their whole lives are a testament to this verse, 13”No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” They train and prepare and work all the time on saving people’s lives. And one of the first responders, the man who had worked especially hard to save a child’s life said, “I always tell people that I can fix anything but a broken heart. But today I couldn’t.” It was a very poignant moment. And later as I thought about it, I thought, maybe this is the only thing we really can fix-a broken heart. Maybe loving each other is the only thing we really can fix.
We all have a bucket that is our lives. We select what we put into them. Choose the big rocks first. Decide on what is important, and all the small rocks and sand and water will follow inevitably. Jesus makes no bones about what is his large rock-12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
And as John the Evangelist said“Do this alone and it is enough.”
John 15:9-17
9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will=2 0give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Finding God In the Wood

Sermon-Year B-5 Easter-May 10, 2009
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
People are always saying to me, “Is it hard to come up with ideas for your sermons?” The answer is, “no, the hard part is only preaching ONE sermon.” Lots of times, if you listen somewhat closely, you’ll hear 3 or 4 sermons competing to see which one actually gets preached. For instance, today. How about the first reading from Acts, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch? The second reading from 1 John-perhaps one of the 5 most quoted readings in the Bible: “perfect love casts out fear”
Or how about this gospel, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower ….(and later) 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
There was a pastor in Austin, Texas who years ago wanted to learn how to whittle. He went to a famous woodcarver named Joe McMordie and the pastor told him that he was pretty pathetic but could Joe show him how to shape wood. One day they were carving a little dog out of a block of wood and Roger the pastor in his frustration asked Joe the whittler, “how do you do this? What’s the secret of whittling?” And Joe thought for a while and said, “That’s easy. You pick up a piece of wood and just cut off everything that doesn’t look like a dog.”
The sermon today is about finding the dog in the block of wood.
18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear;” “19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also….
Charles Colson, the advisor to President Nixon who was famous for his line that he would run over his grandmother if that’s what the president ordered, was put in prison for several years. While there he became a Christian. A tough hard boiled interviewer did not believe this “story” and was grilling him about his faith and whether it wasn’t a “very convenient conversion”. Colson told her that he became a Christian when he was in prison, several prominent men knew that there were serious problems in Colson’s family. They came forward and volunteered to serve his jail term out for him so he could be released early and deal with his family issues. The reporter twice stopped the interview because she was crying so much, and later admitted that after that interview she returned to her church. Chuck Colson had to cut away everything that didn’t look like God in him. It was not easy. It cost him a lot.
Then the gospel. The teaching of Jesus as he continues to explain who he is and how things will be different. He begins by saying, “I am the true vine.” Seven times in the gospel of John Jesus describes himself using this technique, “I am”
We just heard another one last week, What are some of the others? "I am the bread of life." John 6:35, 41, 48-51
"I am the light of the world." John 8:12, 9:5
"I am the door of the sheep." John 10:7, 9
"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." John 10:11, 14
"I am the resurrection, and the life." John 11:25
"I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6
"I am the true vine." John 15:1, 5
This week it’s “I am the true vine” is the last of the 7 “I am” statements. Jesus is trying to use images, word pictures that will stick with his followers after he is gone. I am bread, light, the door, the good shepherd, the resurrection, the life, the way, the truth, and finally, I am the true vine. After telling his followers all these things about who he is, he ends with this one-I am the true vine. And he tells his friends, abide in me, live in me, dwell in me, and I will live in you.
But this gospel is more than just living or abiding in Jesus. He teaches that it’s not just about knowing him. It’s about becoming different.
Earl Weaver, long time manager of the Baltimore Orioles, was known especially for his ability to be able to “bait” umpires. He could harass umps with the best of them. His favorite and most devastating taunt when he disputed a call, was to come flying out of the dugout, get right in the face of the umpire, and scream this question, “”Are you gonna get any better or IS THIS IT?”
Am I gonna get any better or is this it?
When early Christians were first meeting, gathering as a church for the first times, they struggled with two questions-who were they going to be, and who was Jesus. The letter from 1st John addressed the first. They were called to love each other. It was not any easier then than it is now. They struggled, they fought, they felt guilt and shame, they hated and were selfish, jealous and vengeful, they despaired-but they also felt hope. They believed that something new and better than their old life was possible. They believed that they could become someone different, someone new. They believed that God was whittling away, pruning their lives. And that’s where the gospel comes in.
Jesus said, I know it is not easy. I know that sometimes it is very hard. But if you live in me, if you are connected to me, I can make it happen. I can make you happen. He talks about pruning the branches so they bear more fruit. Everyone knew what that meant. It meant whittling away the parts that weren’t the dog. Jesus told them that they were meant to live better lives, fuller lives, lives of value and hope: 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. He teaches them that they were meant to live lives of grace and love.
These two lessons from 1st John and the gospel of John, were written many years apart, but they continue the same teaching-we were meant for something greater. We were meant to be more, we were meant to live. It is the “how” that is the challenge. And the teaching from Jesus is straightforward-I love you, you will love others. We will pass this on. A lot of times, we don’t feel it. Often we struggle because the love doesn’t seem to be there, we can’t hear the voice, or feel God’s embrace. It is not easy to have parts of ourselves cut away, to think of parts of ourselves as branches that need to be pruned. It is often times hard to stay in love with others. There are days that we do not feel connected to the vine, to life, to God:
A young father was struggling the day of his wife's funeral, trying to put his son to bed. Both were numb with sorrow. The little boy asked, "Daddy, where is Mommy?" The father tried to answer the question, but the little boy kept asking, "Where is Mommy? When is she coming back?" After a lot of attempts to satisfy his son, the father picked up the little boy and put him in his own bed. Finally, the little boy reached out his hand through the darkness and placed it on his father's face, asking, "Daddy, is your face toward me?" Given assurance, the boy said, "If your face is toward me, I think I can go to sleep." The father lay beside the young son and prayed, "O God, the way is dark and I do not see my way through it right now, but if your face is toward me, somehow I think I can make it."
Inside each of us is the image of God. In the Easter season, we learn that it is love that is pruning us, whittling away at all that is not that image, letting God live in us. Some days it is dark and we cannot see God’s face. And on those days, we must be God to one another. We are to love and to show that love and to preach that love, and to cast out all fear, all darkness, all that is not God. This is the Easter season. This is the time that we show the world that we abide in Christ, and that we look and love like God. Amen.
1 John 4:7-21
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God=E 2s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son o f God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also

15”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vin e, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

8 Different Ways

The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
We decided a while back to have what’s known as a pulpit exchange today. Our goal was simple-we wanted to do such a terrible job at the church we visited that you would be dying to get your rector back or, as I told George, “they will appreciate you a lot more after I give them my 45 minute sermon.”
Which really does connect with the gospel reading for today, but I’ll get to that in a second.
Every year on the Sunday 3 weeks after Easter, Easter 4, we stop hearing the stories about the resurrection, and instead, we hear a reading from the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John. Throughout this chapter Jesus explains that he is the Good Shepherd. Last year you heard verses 1-10. This year verses 11-18, and next year verses 22-30. Every year, on this Sunday. And so it has become known as ___________Good Shepherd Sunday.
family that keeps coming back
[Over the years I have learned way too much about sheep and shepherds. For example, sheep do not swim. Their coats, wool, absorb water. The weight of a waterlogged coat will cause them to drown, consequently, sheep will not drink from running water. They prefer “still” or “restful” water so they can maneuver for a drink much more safely than from a stream or river.
Shepherds carried certain implements with them, and two of them, a rod and a staff, are referred to in today’s Psalm. The rod was much like what we call a shepherd’s crook, though it could also be simply a long, straight pole. Depending on its shape it was used to grab sheep and pull them back into the flock or to herd them in the right direction. The staff would usually hang from the shepherd’s belt. It was a short wooden club which usually had a lump of wood at the end and could be imbedded with nails. The shepherd used this to defend himself and the flock against predators, primarily wolves, but also against thieves. The Psalm uses this saying, “I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.”
But despite how interesting it is to talk about sheep and shepherds,] the verses that really draw me today are these: “I know my own and my own know me….., 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
In the Navajo religion, when a child comes of age they are given a secret name, only their family knows their name and they only use this sacred secret name at special times, times of great intimacy, and when only they can hear each other.

Did you ever see the Seinfeld episode where he had the girlfriend who always just said, “it’s me” when she called him ? She assumed Jerry knew who “it’s me” was, and the whole show was about how long you should know someone before it was ok to say, “it’s me” as the only identifier.

I have heard that in the Holy Land that many different shepherds brought their sheep to water them all together, and visitors watching them are amazed when the shepherds are ready to leave, they will call the sheep and every sheep knew his own shepherd's voice and followed him as he walked away.

Jesus is teaching the people who he is and why he’s there. And he tells them that he is so committed to them, that God is so dedicated to them, that they will know his voice, and will know his love.
Jesus says, I know my own and my own know me….., and even those who don’t know Jesus, will listen to that voice.
It’s one thing to feel that we hear God calling us, But it’s something else when we have to take this message, this teaching, out.
Kristine Miller, whom you know, is currently working with our parish as she did with yours last year. One of the things that we’re trying to improve upon is our communication. Kristine told us that most of the time we have to say something 8 different ways before it would be heard by everyone. 8. Different. Ways.
I think back to all the times that I have been in an evangelism or newcomer meeting, and someone said, “well, we sent them the packet for newcomers” or “we mailed them the newsletter” or “well, we called and invited them to the potluck.” 8 different ways. How many times did God speak to me about his love, before I finally heard him? How many times did he have to say my sacred name before I actually was aware that he was talking to me? How many times have people said to me that I am forgiven, or loved before it finally dawned on me that I was?
This isn’t the 70 times 7 of forgiveness-this is just being called by God to come to him, this is having people reach out to me and invite me in?
We have a guy in our parish, (also named George). Years ago he went to a De=2 0Colores, weekend spiritual retreat. George was in his 70s when he went. Has spent his whole life in the Episcopal church, from his early teens. He came back from the weekend and said, “John, I heard it-Jesus died-FOR ME.” I said, “yes, George, he did.” And he said, “no, you don’t understand, he died FOR ME.” And I said, Yes, George, I’ve preached that a couple hundred times. TO YOU. He said, “well, this is the first time I heard it.” And it changed his life.
We had a young woman who grew up in this church, Anna, she was here long before I came and has now moved away but stayed in touch. One Sunday she was back visiting, she was a married young woman now, in her mid 20s, and she came up after the service and said, “I don’t know how to say this, because I don’t want to hurt your -feelings-but for years I came to church and I never listened to the sermons-but this morning I did-for the first time-and you know what-it wasn’t bad!”

Hearing Jesus tell us he is The Good Shepherd, probably won’t shake you up, or change your life. Hearing Jesus say that he would lay down his life for you, probably won’t surprise you or revolutionize your way of thinking. But maybe, just maybe, we can hear these words, 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
And realize that we have a mission, an assignment. We are supposed to be Jesus’ voice. We are asked to learn the sacred name of others, and call them each by name. We have a job to do-to keep taking the message of the good shepherd out to people who have not heard their name called by God, who have not felt a connection, a relationship. In other words, we are to find a way to let people know that Jesus didn’t come for just me, or just you, but for them too. It is not easy. In fact, it may be that this is a very hard time for us to find out the voice people will respond to. It may be that we have to use 8 different ways to reach out to folks and let them know that God is hunting for them, seeking them, trying to bring them back to him. But when I think about how many times God must have tried to capture my heart, 8 doesn’t seem that many. How many times did people try to call me, name me, tell me that it was God calling, and I couldn’t and wouldn’t, listen? Using a lot of different ways and means to tell people that there is a shepherd who wants to hold them and protect them, and that they can connect with him here-seems worth it. I think God has a voice, and a sacred name for each of us. I think God had to reach each out to of us, so many times before we could hear his voice. I think this gospel is a wake up call, to us, to me, that the call of God has to go out a hundred times in a thousand ways, before a lot of folks can hear it-it did for me. And I am thankful that people didn’t stop trying, and God didn’t stop calling. Sometimes we have to live a whole life before we realize that our names were being spoken the whole time.
(On the Prairie Home Companion Garrison Keillor did a short shtick on the rapture when the end of time happens and it turned out that the only people who were taken up into heaven were the Unitarians because they didn’t want salvation, they just wanted closure.)
11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the she ep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my=2 0own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
As Tevya says, "Because of our traditions, we know who we are, and what God expects us to do."