Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost three dozen members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the fourth of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Meditation

This Sunday’s readings are like a tapestry with a gold thread winding its way through the texts, a thread that binds us to them with the word “shepherd.” We often call this Shepherd Sunday because the readings depict Jesus Christ as the shepherd. If we turn to the second reading, we hear what St. Peter writes,

For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls (1 Peter 2:25, NRSV).

It’s easy for us to picture Jesus as a gentle shepherd, calling lovingly to his sheep by name, leading the flock to green grass and cool springs, carrying the strays home on his shoulders, and opening the gate to the sheepfold. And these are all good and true and beautiful parts of how Jesus shepherds us. But as the shepherd, he also guards and protects us. A shepherd in the ancient Middle East would carry a crook, a hooked staff like the one on the cross in our sanctuary. Sometimes the crook would serve as a rescue hook to pull a sheep from a ravine, but on other occasions, the shepherd would wield the crook as a weapon, beating back attacks from wild animals and perhaps sheep-stealers.

Maybe a little of that sense of the shepherd as protector comes to life in St. Peter’s phrase calling Christ the “guardian of your souls.” It’s comforting to know he is watching out for us. And as the verse reminds us, his protection extends to us when we have returned from our straying ways, called back by the shepherd.

This insight into our Lord as Shepherd and Guardian helps to guide our work as the members of the Spirit Driven Task Force. It leads us to ask some questions:

• What does it look like for us to follow the Shepherd?
• Have we strayed from his path individually, congregationally, and denominationally? What does that look like?
• When do we hear his voice?
• What is he calling us to do in his name?
• What threats do we face in following him?
• How does he guard us from those threats?

Prayer

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, though your people walk in the valley of darkness, no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. Attune our minds to the sound of his voice, lead our steps in the path he has shown, that we may know the strength of his outstretched arm and enjoy the light of your presence for ever. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. (The Liturgy of the Hours II, p. 756.)

David M. Frye
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
May 13, 2011