EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 3 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on May 3, 2020. This was the eighth digital service we performed after our church was shuttered because of the COVID pandemic.
So there is a lot to in today's gospel, and as I mentioned in the opening of the service today, it is called Good Shepherd Sunday for a reason, specifically for this gospel, in which John paints this image of Christ as our shepherd. Of us, Christ's people, as his sheep.
And so, this week, as I was working the gospel, and the other texts, I have been trying to think of this image of Christ as our shepherd, and what that means for us. But what I really dwelled on, this week, is the final sentence of this gospel, which truly strikes home: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
I know in a time like this, in a time where we're still in our homes, and in a time where there are so many who are still worried about finances, or those who concerned about even when these stay-at-home orders lift and what will it be like to go out into the public again? Will we be safe? And there's projections that we will be dealing with this virus for months and months and months on end. And I know it's hard to sit and hear a scripture that tells us that Christ has come so that we may live, and live abundantly.
And so this morning, I came out to the church early, and I was sitting in the Pastor's Office, and for those who are familiar with my office, I have this wonderful second story window that faces the east. And as I sat there this morning, dwelling on what it means to live abundantly, the sun was rising and growing and becoming this great orange globe in the eastern sky. And, as it came up over the fire hall, I was just struck with the beauty. And it hit me that often times when we think that we were promised abundant lives, we equate abundant with maybe riches, or we equate abundant with perfection, when in reality, all Christ really promises us is, that in that life of abundance he will provide enough.
We see that in the Psalm 23 today where it tells us that he will lead us into green pastures, and he will make us lie down those pastures. And he will lead us to still waters. There's nothing extraordinary about that, and yet it's absolutely extraordinary.
So, as I sat there today, and I pondered this, and I thought, "What does it mean to live abundantly?" This may seem a bit strange, but for me the image that kept coming back over and over again was a very simple story about my family. And it wasn't this past winter, but the winter before. There was a storm that hit. It must have been January. So we're talking January of 2019, and it just so happened that our two older kids, Garrett and his girlfriend, Anna, were home from college on break, and our other kids were on break. And I often take time off from The Forum during that time to be with the kids. It's the easiest time of the year for me to take a vacation. And so we were all there.
And we're all in the house, and this blizzard comes and socks it to our region. And for three days, three days there we were in the house, and we watched movies, and we played board games, and we would go to the kitchen to graze on food. Just in and out; there were no planned meals. But we had plenty of great junk food.
And there we were, in this house, the seven of us for the first time in I can't quite imagine how long. I can count on one how many times in recent years the times that I've gotten all of my family, all seven of us, selfishly to myself.
And so as I thought about what the word "abundance" meant to me in that moment this morning, what an abundant life meant, my mind didn't go to any of the things that I own. Not the house, or any of the vehicles, or the places, that through work over the last couple of years I've gotten to visit, and all of them have been really terrific places to go to. Chicago, and Fort Worth, and southern Texas, and Shelley and I a couple of years ago got a chance to go to south Georgia, just the two of us. And I have very fond memories of that. There are so many items in my house that I love.
As I sat there in the morning, and I saw that sun come there in the east, when I thought of abundance, I thought of that three-day period in which I had my most cherished loved ones around me, and we spent time together talking and playing and watching movies, and just being together.
Now I don't know what the word "abundance" means for you. I suspect, as I was retelling my story, that each of you were sitting in your spot, thinking in your own mind, what abundance means to you. But my bet is that for most of you, riches and glory and beautiful cars and beautiful homes probably weren't the first things that you thought of.
I'm willing to bet that these past couple of months of time at home, and of time together, of slower paces, and fewer meetings, and less running ... I'm willing to bet that this time has helped reshape what it is that we think about when we think of the term "abundance."
Because, trust me, I have plenty of other things in my life that are abundant. I'm very grateful for my general overall health. I'm very grateful for the house we live in, and I love the fact that there are spaces in that house that are just mine. And I don't have to share with my kids or even Shelley! ... I revel in my extended family. I have work that I love, thanks to you all. I have a Faith Family that I cherish, and that I am eager to visit with every Sunday, even if it's just through digital means right now. I have cherished memories going all the way back to childhood.
But when I was forced to sit and think about what was meant by abundance in this gospel today, and how that struck me, I realized that the promises that Jesus makes for us in this gospel, when Jesus promised me that I will have life, and that I will have it abundantly, all it boils down to was those six members of my immediately family that mean the world to me.
Now, I know, again, that it's difficult to talk about abundance, right now. There are people who are really, truly struggling. There are people who are isolated at home, and can't leave for fear of their health. There are people who have shuttered their businesses and cannot work. There are other people who have been laid off because we have had to quarantine. We have medical personnel who are on the front lines of a fight that can cost them their lives. In short, I don't think it's hyperbole to say our very way of living has changed.
But what I think it's important today to remember is that we can't confuse when Jesus says he will give us life of abundance, with a perfect life. None of us is promised a perfect life. No sheep lives a perfect life. They still have to fear a lack of food. They have to fear a lack of fresh water. They have to fear those jagged outcroppings that appear out of nowhere in those deserts, and present the potential of walking right off the edge.
But there is a reason that we call Jesus our shepherd. There is a reason that this gospel gives us that image as faithful people. Because Jesus, even during this time, when we as sheep are living through one of our dangerous times, it reminds us that Christ is out front. Our shepherd is leading us through this very difficult time. He is leading us through to where those green pastures are, and where those still waters that we will find. When we get off of our path, as we are during this time right now, to varying degrees. Some of us right now are that lost sheep who has fallen into the crevice, and we are bleating out for our shepherd. And Jesus is going into those dark places, and into those shadows of death, to find each and every one of us, wherever we are residing in this pandemic right now.
And that is the importance of today's gospel. It sets us up to remind us that while Jesus promises us that we will have an abundant life, that he comes so that we may live, that our abundance is about the fact that he will provide us enough.
That beautiful sunrise in the morning. That cherished spot you have alongside one of our quintessential central Minnesota lakes. Whether that is the morning out on your deck with your cup of coffee and that moment of silence. Whether that's meaning that we have enough food in our homes. Whether that's meaning that even though you might be living warily now, and Jesus is here to help through to that green pasture.
Jesus promises us an abundant life, and while often times, our societal values equate abundance with riches or fancy homes or feasts, when in all reality what Jesus is promising us is that he will be there to provide enough. And so on this fourth Sunday of Easter, on this Good Shepherd Sunday, I hope that you can look to Christ and that image of Christ as shepherd, and if you are one of his sheep in need, that you can call out to him and he will respond. I hope that you take comfort in the fact that as our shepherd, Jesus knows each and everyone of us, and knows us by name. As is his job.
I can't promise that there won't be dark days. I can't promise you that we've seen the backside of all that this virus, this invisible enemy has for us. But I can promise you that Christ is right here in the middle of this with us, and he is leading us, as his flock. And I pray for you today, that you can spend some time just what it is that abundance means for you. And look for those areas in your life where Christ is providing abundance.
And for those of you who are on another path, and you can't quite clearly see where the abundance is showing itself. I pray that you can reach out to Christ today, and lay your fears out there, and lay your anxiety out there, and call to your shepherd. And know absolutely that he will respond.
And that is the Good News for this Sunday. This Good Shepherd Sunday. ... Amen.
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