Midweek Musings for Sunday, April 26, 2015

Easter 4

This week's reflection comes from Rev. Frank C. Hanrahan

Genesee Finger Lakes Conference Dean

Reflecting and Dwelling in the Word

Prayer of the Day

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. Amen

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

"Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by and encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light." Dr. Albert Schweitzer

The world can be a tough place to live it in. It is hard to learn of hundreds of migrants drowning as they try to sail to a safe place. It's hard to watch a person being shot "accidentally". It's hard to listen as a friend tells you there is no cure for his cancer. It's hard to watch a young woman die of her cancer or prepare to do so as she survives in palliative care. It's hard to watch members of congregations disagree and leave the church because "I'm not listened to". It's hard to believe when doubts and uncertainties surround us.

But - it's Easter! Christ Is Risen! Christ Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! It's the INDEED that we cling to. It's the Christ who meets us in our disbelief and joy of wondering. It's the Christ who offers us Christ's love, not judgment, "Peace be with you". It's the Christ who is our Good Shepherd who walks with us through our darkest moments. It's the Christ who rekindles our light, so we can rekindle the light of others. It's the resurrected Christ, our Good Shepherd who reminds us

-we will not be in want

-restores and guides us

-walks through the valley of darkness and death with us

-anoints us and fills our empty cups-assures us we

dwell in God's house in this life and the life to come.

This is the Christ who when our flame is blown out, rekindles it and asks us to light the flame of others, so all can warm up in its glowing. The Good Shepherd gives his life so that nothing will separate us from the Shepherd and the Shepherd's love. Even in a tough world, God's love, protection, presence and promise ARE TOUGHER !!!

"Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life". (ELW 780)

Christ lays down his life so that we can pick up ours and know that we do not walk alone. "If we live, we live to the Lord! If we die, we die to the Lord! S, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." Christ beside us! Christ within us! Christ before us! Christ behind us!

Yes, it is a tough world! BUT!!! Easter trumps Good Friday! The Shepherd makes us (and allows us) to "rest in meadows of faithfulness and love" (ELW 780, st. 1)

CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

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