Musings for April 29

Sunday, April 29, 2012
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Gary Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
The image of the Good Shepherd shows us how the risen Christ brings us to life. It is the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, one of mutual knowledge and love, that gives the shepherd authority. The shepherd's willingness to lay down his life for the sheep shows his love. First John illustrates what it means to lay down our lives for one another by the example of sharing our wealth with any sister or brother in need.

Catherine of Siena, theologian, died 1380
This theologian was the first woman among Roman Catholics to receive the title "Doctor [teacher] of the Church." Catherine was a Dominican sister known for her mystical visions as well as her work on behalf of people who were poor and imprisoned.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O Lord Christ, good shepherd of the sheep, you seek the lost and guide us into your fold.
Feed us, and we shall be satisfied; heal us, and we shall be whole. Make us one with you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Acts 4:5–12

Peter and John had been arrested the previous day because they were proclaiming the news of the resurrection to the people. In today's reading, Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he is able to proclaim salvation in Jesus' name to the religious authorities.

⁵The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" ⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹This Jesus is
'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
¹²There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

¹The LORD ^| is my shepherd;

I shall not ^| be in want.

²The LORD makes me lie down ^| in green pastures

and leads me be- ^| side still waters.

³You restore my ^| soul, O LORD,

and guide me along right pathways ^| for your name's sake.

⁴Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall ^| fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they ^| comfort me. R

⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence ^| of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is ^| running over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days ^| of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the ^| LORD forever. R

Second Reading

1 John 3:16–24

Jesus’ death on our behalf is the clearest demonstration of divine love. This is the very love we share with others, not just through our words but especially through our deeds. In sharing such love we fulfill God’s commandments.

¹⁶We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
¹⁸Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. ¹⁹And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; ²²and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
²³And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Gospel

John 10:11–18

In language that recalls the twenty-third psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and he is able to overcome death for them.

¹¹I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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 own 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."

Reflection

John’s chapter 10 is a familiar passage to many of us. The imagery of a shepherd caring for his sheep is one we have both heard and seen many times. You may have seen pictures of Jesus holding a little lamb. Jesus is the fulfillment of the familiar words in Psalm 23. Jesus is the good shepherd and so we shall not want. It is hard for me to imagine that a shepherd knows all of his sheep by name. Can you tell one sheep from another? When I was principal, I was once challenged by a third grader. I said hello to her by name in the hall. She immediately stopped in her tracks and said, “ How do you know my name. I don’t get into trouble!” I did not want to only focus on those who needed adult support. I wanted to recognize all. That is the point of this Gospel. Jesus knows all of us – by name. So when you pray, you will be known personally. He knows you and loves you. He will protect you as a shepherd protects his sheep.

As a side note: There are times that I do not know the names of my grandchildren. That does not mean that I do not love them.

Let Us Pray

• For those of your flock and follow your voice
• For those who do not hear your voice
• For those who do not hear your voice and cannot discern your call
• For those who are wounded and confused. They have lost sight of you and strayed form you.
• To help us who seek to follow you. Let us be your fellow shepherds.

Quotes

”It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.”

Tiberius, Roman Emperor, 14 AD to 37 AD