Sermon on Easter 4A: What does it mean to be a Sheep?
Acts 2: 42-47, 4:32-5:11
First Peter 2: 19-25
John 10: 1-10
The gospel today says Jesus came to give us life and we are to have it abundantly. That is not so much the situation these days, as we maintain social distancing, sheltering in place, quarantine, isolation, the suspension and closing of non-life-essential businesses. As some people point out, these policies seem authoritarian, unfair, imposed, not the way things should be in America, abridging our freedom, our liberty, our constitutional, or even God-given way of life. What should be the Christian response to these days? Again some Christians continue to gather in crowded churches, evangelize in stranger’s homes and public streets, claiming the authority of God (or the Constitution) for what they do.
What do the scriptures say to this today? The gospel uses the common metaphor of sheep representing human beings. And only the gatekeeper is responsible for the sheep’s comings and goings. Thieves and bandits are those who try to lead out sheep when they should stay safely in their sheepfold. It seems Jesus is comparing this world to a crowded, but safe and restricted pen, while going out to the pasture is a metaphor for souls going to heaven. It is undeniable that people staying safe and restricted in their pens, or their homes, has reduced most crime and pollution. But that is hardly living life abundantly. For the fullness of life do we have to wait for heaven?
The Letter of First Peter shifts attention from the crowd or herd of sheep to the individual. The key phrase is if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. Is it right to stay at home to reduce the odds of people getting and suffering from COVID-19? It does require some suffering; it does require obedience to the authority of the shepherd; it does require abstention of returning abuse for abuse. For to live for righteousness do we have to endure what we would rather not?
And last there is the reading from Acts. Twice in that book (here and 4:32-36) the author describes this ideal Christian community where everyone sells their personal goods and possessions and hands the proceeds over to the community leaders to re-distribute to everyone according to need. This sounds like socialism, if not communism, and according to many people today, such practice might seem like the worst form of government, depriving people of liberty, property, and life (more on that in Acts 4 where those who do not share are killed by divine power). Given this extreme example, should Christians today complain about comparatively few taxes and restrictions imposed by modern governments?
Applying biblical stories and attitudes to modern life is far from easy. Too many people would say that we need to live life to the fullest now (usually meaning prosperity in possessions), that suffering is only for the poor and weak, and our possessions are ours, not God’s to dispose of, and we should not be sheep led foolishly to the slaughter. What scripture suggests to me today, is living life in quietude, deprivation, sharing, and thinking about what is prudent may be what is most virtuous and most needed, now and always.
Written for the parish of St. James & St. George 2020 May 3
URL: <http://therev.brianpavlac.org/srms/20200503.html