Eastertide
May 6, 2017
Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 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. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. –John 10:1-6
Beware the false prophet! Many Christians seem to be confounded if not lost in the maize of discord among peoples of faith and the political rhetoric resulting from it, perhaps causing it, or at the very least benefiting from it. Houses divided do fall. I believe a review of history will show that all the great nations that eventually failed dissolved first from within. Greed and lust for unlimited power seem to be the primary drivers in our society, both sins. Our compass appears to be drawn by the wrong magnet.
How do we regain our focus, right our compass? We listen for Jesus Christ’s voice gently leading us down the path of justice, what the Bible also calls righteousness. Jesus never railed at regular people along the byways. Certainly, he never tried to scare them to death. He saved his ranting for the religious leaders of the day whose compasses were not working well either.
Jesus fixed things. He healed the sick, including those mentally ill; fed the physically hungry; quenched spiritual thirsts; forgave criminals restoring them to wholeness even as they are being executed; and welcomed strangers in his midst. These activities would seem to be a great place for us to focus.
A lot of refocusing is letting go of wrong or outdated visions that block our ability to find those things on which we can agree and on which our combined efforts multiply greatly without the need to disagree.
Prayer: Lord, fix us too. Make us whole, guide our journey, enhance our ability to love like you. Amen.