When Jesus talked with his followers about being a shepherd, they were pretty aware of exactly what that meant, since sheep were all around them and perhaps many themselves were shepherds or owned a herd. My family farm was mostly milk cows and breeder sows with pigs, but we did have one orphaned lamb given to us by our cousin. Lamby Pie was fed milk from a pop bottle with a nipple, and he grew up pretty rapidly. Unfortunately, after he jumped the fence to raid the garden once too often, Lamby Pie was sent packing by my father. In the 90s my brother in law took classes to become a shepherd and brought a small herd of sheep to the farm. I mainly remember that they lambed in the coldest night of February, each ewe having twins or triplets. The sheep on our farm were in closed pens and had little to fear from predators, but sheep raised on open land can be preyed upon by coyotes and wolves.
Sheep are social animals and they instinctively flock together for safety from predators; when one strays away it is more in danger of being attacked. So keeping a flock together is very important for their survival in the open land. Another instinct of sheep is to follow a leader, whether the leader is leading to danger or safety. Sheep have been known to follow a leader over a cliff.
The shepherd makes the herd prosper. The shepherd may provide shelter for the lambing ewes, shade from the hot summer sun and shelter from rain and winter snow; the shepherd keeps the flock together for safety, goes to get lambs that stray from the flock to bring them back, and provides enclosures when needed; the shepherd leads the herd to good grazing pasture and clean, clear water; the shepherd rescues a sheep caught in brush, or a lamb trying to find its mother; and the shepherd wards off dangerous animals that might come near, and merely by being present, prevents lambs being preyed upon. Where the shepherd leads, the sheep will be ensured of a good life, and Jesus says, an abundant life.
In the 21st century we humans might object to being called sheep. We don’t just want to follow each other whether it’s good for us or not, but we invariably do follow opinion leaders, politicians, social icons and idols; we are distracted by the new and fresh, by this year’s fad diet or exercise program or talk show host. As humans, we too are social and instinctually must have community together. We seek companionship, friendship, someone to listen, someone to love and who loves us, and we sometimes choose companions who are not good for us, and some times in our ultimate loneliness we seek substitutes in eating, drinking, or other destructive behavior.
In short, we want abundant life, but we are not good at having it on our own. The shepherd we yearn for is the one who leads us to still waters, waters that constantly bring refreshment and never go dry. We want a life where the important things like friendship, love, giving to others, and living in safe community together are possible.
Christ the shepherd promises that abundant life. Christ has provided that abundant life by his life and death and resurrection, and he leads us to find the God of love who provides for us all we need.
In today’s culture, the other leaders tell us that abundant life will come when we have lost that extra weight, can dress the right way or live in the right house and neighborhood, following all the social rules. But Christ tells us that abundant life is about things of God, things that feed our heart and soul.
The French geologist and priest Teilhard de Chardin has been quoted as saying that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience. What does this mean in the middle of our lives when we must go grocery shopping, clean the house, feed our family, pay the mortgage or rent? How can we nurture our souls when our bodies seem so demanding?
Taking time to feed our souls, stopping to listen for the voice of the shepherd who leads us to the real abundance takes intention on our part. Following the shepherd means leaving the other leaders who would lead us to what look likes green pastures, but they do not really feed us. Listening for the voice of the good shepherd means being able to tune out the other sounds crowding around us and asking us for our attention.
Being in the flock that leads to abundant life is a lifelong task, where we keep learning what it means to have a shepherd like Christ who wants only to feed our souls and give us the food from heaven, the water from living streams. This food and water sustain us for doing the work we have been given to do—to love and serve each other and the world. When we are grounded in the flock that is led by our good shepherd, we don’t want to listen to the others who would lead us astray, into the brush, off the cliff, away from the green pastures and into dangerous land where wolves roam.
Christ is the shepherd who loves us into being. In Christ, God is giving us the abundant life we were meant to live. Through Christ, we find our true selves. We have a choice for which group we flock to, which leader we follow. Christ is calling you to come be cared for by the good shepherd.
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