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Fourth Sunday in
Easter
April 29, 2007
Sermon by The Rev. Bill Van Oss, Rector
Readings
The shepherd’s voice – the
sheep recognized the voice of their shepherd – and that was important
because different shepherds brought all their sheep together in the
evening. Different flocks that had been out wandering throughout the
day, seeking verdant pastures and springs of water, at night they were
brought together, 4-5-6 flocks, for safety. A group of shepherds could
then watch over one flock through the night. In the morning, it was time
for the flocks to go their separate ways, and so, one-by-one, the
shepherds called their sheep by name, like calling a pet dog. I wonder
what they named them. “Come on fluffy, here wooly, let’s go snowball.”
And the sheep knew their shepherd’s voice, and they followed their
shepherds.
The voice signaled food and water, safety and protection. For the sheep
trusted the good shepherd. The shepherd’s voice meant life-giving, good
things.
The house I grew up in back in Wisconsin is two blocks from a park. When
I was a boy, I spent every hour after school and in summer, either
playing baseball or hockey in that park with my friends. As it got to be
close to dark each evening, voices would ring out on my street. Mothers
calling their children – shepherdesses calling their sheep.
We knew our mothers’ voice. For me, it usually began, “Billy,” a
pleasant sing-song kind of tone, but when it was not responded to (and
it often was not) the voice would change, “Billy,” more serious now. And
I always knew when it reached, “William,” it was time to go.
The shepherdess wanted her sheep at home, and it was the same for my
friends. Voices called, “Don,” “David,” “John,” “Frank.” The voice was
calling me to a hot meal, a soapy bath, a good night kiss, a warm bed.
For me, the voice signaled good things, nourishment and comfort and
safety, and love.
But sadly, I am well aware that for some of my peers the voice was not a
signal of good things, and comfort, safety and love. I know now that for
at least one of my friends, the voice caused fear and pain, because my
friend went home to being told he was stupid, an idiot, that he’d never
amount to anything. Indeed, the voice signaled abuse and violence at the
hands of an alcoholic.
I am grateful, deeply grateful, that my mother’s voice called me to good
things: safety and comfort, nourishment and love. Because I grew up
believing the same things about God in Jesus. I heard the voice of God
in my mother’s voice. I knew that I could trust the Good Shepherd. I
knew that God’s love was abundant and unconditional, and for me, and I
know now that not everyone was given that gift.
What if the only voices that one hears are filled with criticism and put
downs, even outright hate and violence?
Newsweek reported last week that the Virginia Tech. shooter was severely
bullied as a youngster, bullied even in his church youth group – even
church was not safe. Did this boy ever hear the voice of a good
shepherd? Did he ever hear God telling him that he was a beloved child,
created in the image and likeness of God, and loved beyond his wildest
imagining? Loved unconditionally?
Did the space inside of him that could have been filled with love and
goodness get filled with hate and rage instead?
Today’s Gospel tells us quite clearly: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. His
voice speaks peace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, kindness and love.
There is a space inside each of us that gets filled up with these good
things when we listen to the shepherd’s voice, and then we, in turn, use
words and actions of peace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, kindness,
and love with all those we meet.
We are the Word God speaks to the world. God, dwelling in us, speaks
healing words to the damaged and broken in our world. God has no voice
but yours and mine. What is God saying through you? What is God saying
through your words and actions?
Our world desperately needs to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. It
needs words and actions of peace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness,
kindness and love. Let the Good Shepherd speak through you, today and
every day. Amen.