9-4-2015

        Good Morning All!!                 

John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”

   Jesus as the shepherd and we are the flock; this image has been used so often that it is almost quaint.  Maybe you remember the song “I just want to be a sheep baa baa” or maybe the hymn “I am Jesus’ little Lamb”.  This happens when we lose touch with the basic story or theme.  Most of us have very little, if any, contact with sheep anymore.  We don’t understand the dynamics or the truths of a flock of sheep.  Mostly, all we have is vague memories at best but what we usually rely on is what a book or a movie told us. 

     The beauty of using the flock for us as the church is that it addresses our most basic needs and wants.  When the flock is gathered together and the shepherd is intently watching over it; there is safety and serenity.  The flock is calm; quietly eating the grass, drinking the still water, lying down in the green pastures content and resting in the bounty that the shepherd provides.   

    The holy Church is the same way.  We, as believers, live within this community.  It is in this community that we are safe; we are nourished by the sacraments and we hear the soothing and calming voice of the Savior speaking his words of forgiveness and reconciliation.  All this provides us with the comforting Gospel which allows us to rest in the bounty of God’s abundant grace.  This encompasses all our needs; everything we need is found in the flock.

     The wonderful thing is that the Holy Spirit continues the unceasing work of calling, guarding, protecting and feeding the sheep of the flock until Jesus returns.  We are the unique community which is in the world but not of the world.  Our focus is always on the return of Christ; we look forward to it we long for it as in “thy kingdom come.”  While the world worries about today and fears tomorrow, we look with eager anticipation to the promised return of Jesus in triumph when the final enemy, death, is totally consumed.

     We hold onto this promise by faith, a faith that desires the forgiveness; that craves the words of hope which our Savior speaks to us.  We long to trust in the promise of salvation and eternal life.  With that faith we can boldly go out and preach this gospel to everyone we meet.  We can bring consolation to the dying, comfort to the hurting, hope to those who have none.  God is our refuge; he is our hope; he is our shepherd protecting us and calling us by name, by our individual name, to hear the good news of our salvation.  In him do we hope, in him to we trust.

     This is why we encourage everyone to join together with their local congregation and worship together.  It is in the church that we hear God’s message of forgiveness and we receive the nourishment of his body and blood.  We don’t gather because we are trying to impress God; we gather for the renewing and rejuvenating of our soul.  Join the flock and celebrate the Lord’s gift to you.

Gracious Lord, you call us by name and gather your children into your protective flock.  Guard us from all harm and lead us down the path of salvation which you have prepared for us.  In your holy precious name we pray, amen.     

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret