Fourth Sunday of Easter (John 10:1-10)  5/11/2014

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“Can you hear me now?” These words might be familiar to you if you remember the Verizon Wireless ads from a few years ago, or maybe you’ve heard those words if you have called me on my mobile phone while I was inside the stone walls of the church! Sometimes we struggle to clearly hear the words of those around. This reality is among the lessons Jesus aims to teach us this morning in our Gospel lesson. “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice…and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4) But, can you hear me now? The author of John’s Gospel account tells us, “No,” the disciples did not understand Jesus as he spoke this parable to them. I recently heard a wonderful story about a young girl who lives in northern New England; her parents raise Shetland Sheep for the beautiful wool of these animals. The young girl spends hours and hours among the sheep, she knows every sheep of the fold for their unique markings and color and their individual personality. And the sheep know her by voice, just as Jesus told in his story to his followers. The sheep know her because she is among them and cares for them in deep and personal ways.

This morning we are invited into one of the most beloved stories of Jesus’ teaching: the shepherd and the sheep. We hear this story three weeks after Easter, a very short time after Jesus’ death and resurrection. In the time since the mysterious and glorious morning of Easter, we have heard stories about empty tombs, doubting disciples, and general confusion along a road to a place called Emmaus. Our story this morning, the story of the shepherd and his sheep is finally an intimate and comforting story; this story captures the great joy of Psalm 23, in response to the great sorrow of Psalm 22 (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) God knows us and God loves us, caring for us down to every hair on our heads, we are told in Scripture. In these days after Easter, life has certainly changed on the other side of the risen Christ. And we are comforted to know that Christ knows us intimately, by our voice alone. But do we know Christ, can we find Christ’s voice in the world around us?

Last Sunday’s Baptism of young Cabot reminded me of the love and comfort a baby holds for those who are close to them. The young one knows their voice and they know the baby’s voice: the “hungry” voice, the “tired” voice, the “hey, the priest just poured water on my head” voice. Just as the young girl knows every sheep and they know her voice because they have spent many hours together in community, in close and personal ways. For us, hearing Christ’s voice in the world is achieved by hearing the voice of the Body of Christ, being involved in close and personal experiences in our community, as God calls us individually. Sharing our gifts in the world is our deepest expression of sacred connection to the community, and it is a life-giving exercise for our own personal growth. This sharing, which the Bible calls stewardship, is our path to hearing and knowing the voice of Christ. Just as the dependent baby’s constant connection and patient listening to their parents bonds them together in sacred ways, so too our connection to Christ’s community bonds us to God.

The message of Easter is a resurrection message. Life is not over; but life has been forever changed, renewed in amazing ways. I hope you have noticed that the life of the church throughout the world has changed and continues to change in startling ways – we are in a time of global transition. And I am sure you have noticed that the life of this community has changed and continues to change – we are in a time of transition as well. The life of one living in times of transition is powerfully captured by Brother Scott Borden, (Prior, Holy Cross Monastery, NY) in his Eastertide message; Brother Scott wrote, “I am quite convinced that the movement within the church unfolding now is an awakening of a deeper sense of community than the church has known in a very long time…I believe the church will resurrect into a body that discovers vast new ways to foster and strengthen communities…We will use our resources…in ways that will startle us…Scripture reminds us that our common life depends upon each other…And all of us who want to follow Jesus are being invited to be stewards of this transitional time for the church.”^[i] I would add to Brother Scott’s message, that our hope to hear the voice of Christ depends upon each other as well. Individually, we are the stewards of the many gifts that have been given to us; collectively, we are the Body of Christ in the world, the community of God’s children responsible for spreading the grace of God to others. Our work in the world is a sacramental act for the benefit of the community, and through these daily actions Christ’s voice is made known to us. The voice of Christ, made manifest in our midst, is inviting us to follow him in this great time of transition…and if we have the courage to listen, we will know the power and grace of God’s love, that “we may have life, and have it abundantly.” The voice of Christ is calling out to you. Can you hear me know? AMEN.

^[i] Br. Scott Borden, “The Prior’s Column: Resurrection,” Crux est Mundi Medicina, Holy Cross Monastery Newsletter, May 2014, Vol. 26, Issue 2, pp. 1-2.