“TOGETHERNESS”

15 May 2011, 4 Easter

Psalm 23:1 & John 10:2-3

John D. Lane

Trinity Church, Staunton VA

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

There’s a modern cliche’: “I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious.” It reminds me of something a 12 year-old I knew once told her doctor: “I’ve been feeling a little bilious.” His reply? “What the heck does that mean?” She started crying and said, “I don’t know!” So, if you’ve been feeling a little spiritual lately, you might want to get ready for the question, “What the heck does that mean?” And you might consider asking the same thing to anyone who says, “I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious.”

Jesus was feeling a little spiritual perhaps, not to mention harassed by the Devil, when he spent 40 days in the wilderness following his baptism. But his first act when he exited the desert was to find himself a church–or to be more precise, found himself a religious community. He began to gather disciples, followers, many of whom would stay with him until the end, many of whom would see that his ministry continued until today and beyond.

Today, we are baptizing Daniel Coleman Gribbin, recognizing him as a child of God and welcoming him into the same community which Jesus began. The baptism service is one of the few times when we express our individual faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth...” We say it together in solidarity with our newest Christian. On most Sundays, we recite the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God...” Our foundation as Christians is all about community, baby, not sitting by yourself on a hillside in Montana watching the sun set. Mind you, Jesus doesn’t disapprove of Montana or the Outer Banks or the golf course or yoga, it’s just that spiritual experiences can aid but not substitute for the community of the church, the body of Christ.

Today’s lesson from Acts is of course about communism, in favor of it in fact–“All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” I’m going to leave that passage for Paul, Shelby, or Jim to expound upon. Psalm 23 and John 10 are about shepherds, and that’s what I want to consider this morning.

I’m no expert on sheep or shepherds, but I have seen two types of shepherds at work. The first type is common in Augusta County. The sheep are kept in a pen or pasture, and moved around from pasture to pasture so that there will always be fresh grass for them to eat. The shepherd lives in the adjacent farmhouse, and moves them, feeds them in the winter, is midwife during the lambing season, and keeps predators away. Many of you knew Dan Fannon. He was priest, shepherd and B and B owner. I admire the two latter vocations, but have never been tempted by either. Chacun a son gout, as the French put it. Different strokes for different folks.

The other type of shepherd, the type Jesus knew, moves the sheep around on a kind of extended camping trip–the sheepfold is only for the winter when there is no grazing. Often, two or more shepherds will combine their flocks, so that there are more of them to look after the sheep. They operate in areas where only farmland is fenced, with the rest left open. The shepherds move the sheep every day, sometimes several times. Experienced shepherds develop routes through the grazing areas they know best.

From the air, a large flock of sheep seems to move like an amoeba. Most of the sheep are in the middle, but the edges are more active and require more supervision from the shepherds. Some of the sheep get out in front of the flock, and may be followed by the rest, often not. Some straggle because they’re slow or small or are easily sidetracked. Some wander to the sides, off on their own tangents as it were. The shepherds try to keep them together, so they can be fed and be safe.

Congregations are often referred to as flocks. Lutherans always call their clergy pastors, literally shepherds. When he talked about sheep and shepherd, Jesus knew what he was talking about, you’ll be pleased to know. A congregation exhibits many of the same characteristics as sheep. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, some are out in front, others are lagging, still others are often on tangents of one sort or another. None of us is fenced in. None of us is required to do anything particular. Ideally, we all exercise our own gifts, and together we have all the gifts necessary for following Jesus. As individuals, no one has all the gifts. The community is important, it’s necessary. It feeds us spiritually, but in different ways from gazing at sunsets.

We are all in different places in our spiritual lives. Some feel we have it all together; others may feel that we are in spiritual deserts at the moment. Saying the Nicene Creed together, “We believe,” we are expressing the faith of the community as a whole, not where we are individually in our faith at the moment. I had a friend who enjoyed singing and joined a church choir. After the first rehearsal, the choir director suggested that she just listen while the others sang. After a few weeks, she opened her mouth and tried again, and this time the director told her she was much better and to keep on singing with everyone else. In faith, sometimes we’re ready to take a brief turn as soloists, sometimes we can blend in with the group, and other times it’s best just to listen and take it all in. You can’t do that off by yourself.

Paul was away this past week because his son Aidan was graduating from college. The parish is here today to rejoice with him. Our second grandson, Sam, was born on Easter Eve, and we are glad to share the joy with those here. Many of us have shared sorrow from time to time, and it’s hard to know how we could manage without one another’s support and love. The Good Shepherd takes care of us sheep.

Today, we rejoice with Elizabeth, Mark, William, grandparents, and the other friends and relatives, as Daniel is welcomed into Christ’s own flock. It is our responsibility and privilege as the Body of Christ, Jesus’ own sheep, to welcome Daniel and make him a part of the church, an heir to the apostles whom Jesus called to follow him as soon as he came out of the wilderness.

Another cliche’, in this case one that is true and helpful: Faith is a journey. Like sheep we move along, sometimes doing well, sometimes lost, but together always watched over by the Good Shepherd himself.

Don’t hesitate to spend some time this week in private prayer, meditation, bible reading, yoga, golf, and communing with nature. But come back here next week to be with the rest of the flock on our faith journey. We need you and you need us.

“I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious.” Jesus would disagree.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.