15 May

The world that Jesus knew was very familiar with the figure of the shepherd. Shepherds were absolutely vital to the economy. Ironically, they were not paid very well, in spite of the fact that their work entailed not only long hours outside, but also a great deal of danger, particularly from the threat of wolves. The shepherd always led the flock and was responsible for finding pasture. Any suggestion that the image of the shepherd makes Jesus out to be merely gentle and nurturing is very far from the truth. What is very significant about the shepherd’s role is that it called for a person who was prepared to be gentle and tough, nurturing and driving.

In the language of this passage, there are many would-be “shepherds” today who try to manipulate and exploit people for questionable ends. The name Madoff comes to mind – you may think of others. We might think of the thief of which Jesus speaks as being among these people. A particularly false shepherd is one who leads young people to drug use. Such a shepherd comes, says Jesus, for no reason other than “to steal and to kill and to destroy.” Jesus says of his followers that if they are wise, they will not follow such a stranger, but instead, flee from him.

Jesus then tries to get us to understand our relationship with him. As an image, he uses the door which was part of every sheepfold. Jesus speaks of our “going in and out” by the door which, in a spiritual sense, is Jesus himself. What this means is that a Christian sets out to use Christ’s path or way, to do everything “through Christ,” in short, to live life through Christ’s grace and help.

Jesus then says something we tend to miss in our culture and way of living. He says “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Notice that he does not say he came that we might merely have religion!! Christ offers himself to us not only as the Lord of our religious experience, but as the Lord of our total human experience. We hear this and we nod our heads in agreement, but actually there is a great deal in our culture and society, and in ourselves, that resists this and fights against it.

The truth is that for a Christian, Jesus is the door through which one enters into every aspect of life, into one’s office or shop or plant. Christ is the door through which a Christian enters into a theater or library or art gallery - anything. What we really mean by saying this is that for a Christian, no area of life is outside the guidance and the grace and the companionship of Christ. I hope you truly experience this in your journey this Eastertide.

Remember: Christ is Risen! And you are a follower of the Resurrected Christ. Alleluia!

Love,

Bob+