“Jesus, Shepherd of Our Souls “
John 10, Ps. 23 & 1 Peter 2:19-25
Year A 5.3.20
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, hear our prayer. This could be a call and response for us as part of a prayer we might render. Notice will you in our lectionary readings for today, the calling upon our lives as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. See too how Peter, Jesus, and David all share something in common. All were both "sheep and shepherd" in their lives.
Peter, oh Peter, he was a sheep, albeit a stubborn one, and recall how he wasn't always hearing Jesus' voice as his shepherd while he was with him on that three year journey with Jesus.
Peter, was once a part of Jesus' little flock, and in the end, he too became a shepherd as well as the "Rock" for the early Christian believers, spread out across the empire, specifically in the Roman Province of Asia Minor. Peter knew irony.
Life is so full of irony, suffering, tests, trials, or calling for a specific kind of endurance test to be undertaken and passed through. We miss the mark, we miss the place of quiet rest, the still small and gentle voice that calls to us to safety and protection. We miss the voice that calls us to the table that is spread before us and abundantly so.
We may ask ourselves, "What is this grace as gift, inheritance all about?" "Why do we need it, what does it represent?" "Does it really matter?" Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, in our doubts and questions, hear our prayers.
How is God still calling us to be faithful as a sheep of Christ's own fold? How is God calling us to be faithful as an individual sheep in/of the flock, as one of Christ's own? How is our relationship to and with God as Divine Shepherd, to and with Jesus as Divine Shepherd doing today, this day, the first Sunday in May? How is our relationship in this way during our time of sheltering in place, of trying to keep ourselves and others in safety?
As we feel as though we're being pushed and pulled in every direction in times of "normalcy", now it's occurring in new ways and quickly too. We're longing for surety, answers, stability, that place where HOPE is in abundance to draw upon as living water. We know we need help in and with our lives, and in these moments, Jesus Shepherd of our souls, he becomes both gate (protection) and shepherd (guide).
Ancient world shepherds would face many threats, dangers, like thieves, robbers, disrespect in society, diseases, and viruses while they go about their very important work.
The shepherd learns to listen for the individual "bleat", the voice of each individual animal in his/her charge and care. In turn, the individual animal "sheep" learns to recognize a specific shepherd's voice. It will not follow any other shepherd's voice. It's a special relationship that develops here. It's a special relationship that's described in our reading today. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, hear our hearts, our thoughts, yes even now as a part of this message as our prayer.
As Peter's letter to the early Christians who were struggling under the weight of oppression in their day, it spoke to them, it speaks to all of us still. It's a calling to believe in the power of God, who raised Jesus from the dead as the eternal hope, to recall that God is faithful, God provides.
God provides nurture, protection, safety, security, and sure provisions in the physical and spiritual ways. God gives the food that's needed on God's table and in God's ways/timing. God's table of love isn't just for today, but each and every day, especially in/on the days of intense suffering. I believe in this power of God to not only do all of this but to help me to find that place of "my rest" in him. How about you?
In the midst of our own pain and suffering, we can't see what we need to see, nor hear the gentle voice which calls to us. We're grieving our losses in so many ways and will continue to do so for a long time to come, my friends.
Perhaps we're beginning to doubt ourselves, asking ourselves, can we make it, will we make it? Will we come through this time? How will we be changed or will life be changed for us and everyone when this pandemic is finally over?
Perhaps we may begin to doubt God's ways and calling on our lives as Christ's disciples. We must recall and cling to Peter's words, "though you do not see him, Jesus, you believe him" as the answer to all of this lack of rest, safety, doubting, and mistrust that we develop, even in our weariness. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, continue to call us out from and in our human condition, to the New Canaan, that place of gracious gift, of promised land, even now.
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call us to your vision, to transform ourselves from sheep which lack hearing, to one who hears you calling. Call us to receive this gift of grace, as our inheritance from God. Call us to trust still in God as Shepherd, just as it was for David, Peter, and yourself. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call us and help us to be sheep worthy of our calling.
This calling of Jesus' voice, as sheep, shepherd, and gate, God as Shepherd to us in our discipleship, it is full of hope, safety, rest, and comfort, especially during these days of our own form of suffering.
If Jesus could withstand all of the humiliation, the demoralizing, the denigration and the reproach that was cast upon him, even as he was insulted to his face, not just at the end, but for days and years on end, how about us?
Jesus wouldn't condemn or avenge others while he went through it all, can we then heed his call to us? Jesus' sacrifice of himself as the Shepherd of our souls was made to show us as his believers and disciples today, that we are cared for and we will be made whole. We will be made whole, no matter how many times we miss the mark in our lives, or we miss hearing the still small voice.
The Eternal One calls us back. The Shepherd's Call, see this connection then in I Peter 2:25 and Psalm 23. Hear then these words as a rendition of these verses that I've put together after reviewing my good friend, the Rev. Elana Keppel-Levy's Word Study on these passages from her SoMuchBible.com website. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, help us to hear your voice calling to us in these words:
I Peter 2:25 "For you were wandering, going off the right path, roaming from truth and virtue, like a people easily led as a grazing animal, but now you have returned, come again with a moral turning to the one who protects you, and the overseer who gazes carefully over your breath of life, your uniqueness, your affections, your individuality."
Ps. 23 "Yahweh, the Eternal One is my keeper, companion and teacher, I shall not lack or need that which is vital for living. He makes me rest in the tender grass of spring, a lovely place as habitation, a pleasant place; He, Yahweh the Eternal One, guides me to a watering-place, of being refreshed as a gentle leading, beside the settled spot, to be quiet, settle down, of rest that's comfortable of ease, being peaceful for an abode to dwell in by the waters. The Eternal One calls me to turn back, to return my living being and passion. Yahweh guides and brings me to see that what is morally, that which is of justice, equity, and prosperity, in my track or course, for Yahweh's honor, authority as the mark to follow.
Even though I walk through the place or state of pestilence and ruin, the grave, the calamity, of death, the gorge with lofty sides as a narrow place, I fear no trouble, natural disaster, adversity, affliction, distress or anything breaking into pieces, for you are with me, your staff, scepter, the stick for ruling, walking, punishing and your support, sustenance, protection to rest on, these console me.
You set/put in order a meal before my face in the presence of my adversary, on those who restrict in any sense; your satisfy and accept, taking away my ashes from head with oil, my container is saturated, wealthy, and overflowing. Surely this pleasant, agreeable and beautiful place of being and favor, of goodness, loving-kindness, or pity, it shall run after, chase and pursue me, all the days of my life, and I shall continue, remain, dwell and settle down in the house of the Lord, for my length of days."
For the length of my days, our days, however long this is or it takes, trust in God. Keep your hope going as part of your calling to discipleship, in being faithful. And lastly, from the words of Ps. 100:2 "Know this; the Lord Himself is God, he himself has made us and we are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call to us, help us, hear our prayer. Amen.
Rev. Norlita J. Kaul
Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church PCUSA
Brookings SD
John 10, Ps. 23 & 1 Peter 2:19-25
Year A 5.3.20
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, hear our prayer. This could be a call and response for us as part of a prayer we might render. Notice will you in our lectionary readings for today, the calling upon our lives as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. See too how Peter, Jesus, and David all share something in common. All were both "sheep and shepherd" in their lives.
Peter, oh Peter, he was a sheep, albeit a stubborn one, and recall how he wasn't always hearing Jesus' voice as his shepherd while he was with him on that three year journey with Jesus.
Peter, was once a part of Jesus' little flock, and in the end, he too became a shepherd as well as the "Rock" for the early Christian believers, spread out across the empire, specifically in the Roman Province of Asia Minor. Peter knew irony.
Life is so full of irony, suffering, tests, trials, or calling for a specific kind of endurance test to be undertaken and passed through. We miss the mark, we miss the place of quiet rest, the still small and gentle voice that calls to us to safety and protection. We miss the voice that calls us to the table that is spread before us and abundantly so.
We may ask ourselves, "What is this grace as gift, inheritance all about?" "Why do we need it, what does it represent?" "Does it really matter?" Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, in our doubts and questions, hear our prayers.
How is God still calling us to be faithful as a sheep of Christ's own fold? How is God calling us to be faithful as an individual sheep in/of the flock, as one of Christ's own? How is our relationship to and with God as Divine Shepherd, to and with Jesus as Divine Shepherd doing today, this day, the first Sunday in May? How is our relationship in this way during our time of sheltering in place, of trying to keep ourselves and others in safety?
As we feel as though we're being pushed and pulled in every direction in times of "normalcy", now it's occurring in new ways and quickly too. We're longing for surety, answers, stability, that place where HOPE is in abundance to draw upon as living water. We know we need help in and with our lives, and in these moments, Jesus Shepherd of our souls, he becomes both gate (protection) and shepherd (guide).
Ancient world shepherds would face many threats, dangers, like thieves, robbers, disrespect in society, diseases, and viruses while they go about their very important work.
The shepherd learns to listen for the individual "bleat", the voice of each individual animal in his/her charge and care. In turn, the individual animal "sheep" learns to recognize a specific shepherd's voice. It will not follow any other shepherd's voice. It's a special relationship that develops here. It's a special relationship that's described in our reading today. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, hear our hearts, our thoughts, yes even now as a part of this message as our prayer.
As Peter's letter to the early Christians who were struggling under the weight of oppression in their day, it spoke to them, it speaks to all of us still. It's a calling to believe in the power of God, who raised Jesus from the dead as the eternal hope, to recall that God is faithful, God provides.
God provides nurture, protection, safety, security, and sure provisions in the physical and spiritual ways. God gives the food that's needed on God's table and in God's ways/timing. God's table of love isn't just for today, but each and every day, especially in/on the days of intense suffering. I believe in this power of God to not only do all of this but to help me to find that place of "my rest" in him. How about you?
In the midst of our own pain and suffering, we can't see what we need to see, nor hear the gentle voice which calls to us. We're grieving our losses in so many ways and will continue to do so for a long time to come, my friends.
Perhaps we're beginning to doubt ourselves, asking ourselves, can we make it, will we make it? Will we come through this time? How will we be changed or will life be changed for us and everyone when this pandemic is finally over?
Perhaps we may begin to doubt God's ways and calling on our lives as Christ's disciples. We must recall and cling to Peter's words, "though you do not see him, Jesus, you believe him" as the answer to all of this lack of rest, safety, doubting, and mistrust that we develop, even in our weariness. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, continue to call us out from and in our human condition, to the New Canaan, that place of gracious gift, of promised land, even now.
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call us to your vision, to transform ourselves from sheep which lack hearing, to one who hears you calling. Call us to receive this gift of grace, as our inheritance from God. Call us to trust still in God as Shepherd, just as it was for David, Peter, and yourself. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call us and help us to be sheep worthy of our calling.
This calling of Jesus' voice, as sheep, shepherd, and gate, God as Shepherd to us in our discipleship, it is full of hope, safety, rest, and comfort, especially during these days of our own form of suffering.
If Jesus could withstand all of the humiliation, the demoralizing, the denigration and the reproach that was cast upon him, even as he was insulted to his face, not just at the end, but for days and years on end, how about us?
Jesus wouldn't condemn or avenge others while he went through it all, can we then heed his call to us? Jesus' sacrifice of himself as the Shepherd of our souls was made to show us as his believers and disciples today, that we are cared for and we will be made whole. We will be made whole, no matter how many times we miss the mark in our lives, or we miss hearing the still small voice.
The Eternal One calls us back. The Shepherd's Call, see this connection then in I Peter 2:25 and Psalm 23. Hear then these words as a rendition of these verses that I've put together after reviewing my good friend, the Rev. Elana Keppel-Levy's Word Study on these passages from her SoMuchBible.com website. Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, help us to hear your voice calling to us in these words:
I Peter 2:25 "For you were wandering, going off the right path, roaming from truth and virtue, like a people easily led as a grazing animal, but now you have returned, come again with a moral turning to the one who protects you, and the overseer who gazes carefully over your breath of life, your uniqueness, your affections, your individuality."
Ps. 23 "Yahweh, the Eternal One is my keeper, companion and teacher, I shall not lack or need that which is vital for living. He makes me rest in the tender grass of spring, a lovely place as habitation, a pleasant place; He, Yahweh the Eternal One, guides me to a watering-place, of being refreshed as a gentle leading, beside the settled spot, to be quiet, settle down, of rest that's comfortable of ease, being peaceful for an abode to dwell in by the waters. The Eternal One calls me to turn back, to return my living being and passion. Yahweh guides and brings me to see that what is morally, that which is of justice, equity, and prosperity, in my track or course, for Yahweh's honor, authority as the mark to follow.
Even though I walk through the place or state of pestilence and ruin, the grave, the calamity, of death, the gorge with lofty sides as a narrow place, I fear no trouble, natural disaster, adversity, affliction, distress or anything breaking into pieces, for you are with me, your staff, scepter, the stick for ruling, walking, punishing and your support, sustenance, protection to rest on, these console me.
You set/put in order a meal before my face in the presence of my adversary, on those who restrict in any sense; your satisfy and accept, taking away my ashes from head with oil, my container is saturated, wealthy, and overflowing. Surely this pleasant, agreeable and beautiful place of being and favor, of goodness, loving-kindness, or pity, it shall run after, chase and pursue me, all the days of my life, and I shall continue, remain, dwell and settle down in the house of the Lord, for my length of days."
For the length of my days, our days, however long this is or it takes, trust in God. Keep your hope going as part of your calling to discipleship, in being faithful. And lastly, from the words of Ps. 100:2 "Know this; the Lord Himself is God, he himself has made us and we are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, call to us, help us, hear our prayer. Amen.
Rev. Norlita J. Kaul
Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church PCUSA
Brookings SD