April 13, 2008 Sermon
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Easter 4 - A
April 13, 2008 Allan Conkling
With today's readings you can see that we have finally moved away from the empty tomb and the events of the first Easter day. You will remember that for the past weeks we have had passages beginning, "On that same day” or “When it was evening on that same day..." Now we shift to the attempts of the early church to "tell the old, old story" of this remarkable man and respond to his message. In the decades after his death, dozens of striking images emerged having their roots in Jewish and Greek traditions. In John, we find the wonderful collection of what is called the "I am" sayings attributed to Jesus:
I am the light of the world
I am the bread of life
I am the way, the truth and life
I am the true vine
I am the resurrection
I am the good shepherd
And the one we have this morning: I am the gate for the sheep.
Most scholars today do not think that Jesus said things this way about himself. Rather these are sayings of the early church. This is the voice of the community, which says to us down throughout the ages: We have found in this person the light of the world who has shown us the way out of darkness. We have found in this person a way that leads to eternal life.
To say that Jesus is the good shepherd and the gate for the sheep is but another way to say that in Jesus Christ is found the sure and certain way to the heart of God: We are the "Flock". Ministers are his "Pastors" and "Shepherds"; we as a congregation are called to do "Pastoral Care"; bringing people "into the fold" is our job. We exist as a church because our Lord is the way to life; and Christ himself is life because he laid down his own life for his sheep. Christ is the Gate to a greater and more abundant life of wholeness and wellbeing.
How this all gets played out is the "stuff" of our history. How well have we as "sheep" listened to the shepherd’s voice? How well have the clergy as "pastors and shepherds" cared for the flock? And have we as a church tried to close the gate or make it only for ourselves? Or do we truly seek to open it as wide as possible for all who would seek to enter? History is the judge of those things.
On the other hand, you and I continue to make history today. When problems arise, when storms assail our soul, when life feels to be on shifting sand; when people around us seem to have lost their way or become strayed or scattered...we believe that Christ provides the answer. Moreover, our church, as the outward and visible body of Christ can also give a message of hope in difficult times.
As I wrote this sermon, as I speak it and you hear it today, we are in the middle of an incredible undertaking in our city of San Angelo. As all of the "FLDS" events continue to unfold we at Emmanuel have basically two options: One is to do nothing. The other is to be as involved as we possibly can. We have chosen the latter:
Wendy Powell and Diedre McCoy of our Church will give us an update on CASA program at the announcement time.
We are being asked
to provide casseroles on two "Emmanuel nights", May
You’ve read about the "Quilting group" that is making quilts for each of the children. This is Judith Lester and Amy Kitten's group that meets at Emmanuel on Mondays.
Sue Gibian of our church was one of the folks who went shopping for baby strollers and high chairs yesterday.
Outreach provided $600 to that operation.
Mary Jane Steadman is making arrangements for the out of town attorneys to have dinner at Guy & Eva Choate’s place. She will talk to us at announcement time.
We will be using our Great Room for a meeting place for the attorneys and others.
Some of the attorneys are from Emmanuel
Carl White?
We've volunteered our parking lot for use.
Toni, our secretary has been our phone coordinator.
The Daughters of the King are offering prayers,
And each of us offers our own prayers for the children, the women, and the officials and volunteers who are helping them.
And the list goes on...
The writer of Acts says in our first lesson:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done... 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. [They were] praising God and having the goodwill of all the people." (Acts 2:42 - 47)
What better way to see God's hands and feet at work right now? "It is very meet, right and our bounden duty..."
Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd, the Gate, the door to the sheepfold:
"Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
This is what God looks like. This is what WE are called to look like in God.
"Grant, that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls each of us by name, and follow where he leads..."
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Revised: 04/21/08