Jesus the Door Sunday
This
Sunday, like all fourth Sundays of Easter, is Good Shepherd Sunday. This is the
one Sunday we are invited to take note of what Kenneth Bailey[1]
describes as the ongoing Good Shepherd tradition with scripture. As I have said
before this tradition begins with 23rd Psalm which uses the ordinary
work of a shepherd to describe how God seeks out the lost sheep, brings them
home, protects them, and provides all they need to flourish. Bailey says this
basic tradition is reinterpreted again and again, including by Jesus in today’s
reading from John 10.
This
is not just Jesus’ reinterpretation. It is also John’s. He sets his version
within the story of the man born blind who was healed, was then cast out by the
Jewish leaders, and then became a disciple and was included in Jesus own
community of followers. Everything Jesus says relates back to those very
concrete acts. In this version Jesus is
the shepherd who lies across the gate at night and risks his own life to
protect the sheep and is the door who welcomes in all who seek to join this flock.
Jesus says “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”[2]
Life, eternal life, life in abundance is the central theme in John. We are
given abundant life. The question then is what does abundant life look like for
us living with Covid-19? What does it mean for us to be given everything we
need to flourish?
The
Acts reading is a glimpse of how that first very diverse group of followers responded
to this abundant life. How do we respond to abundant life? What ways of being
church in this time of lock-down we might want to continue when we come out of
lock- down to better respond to abundant life? Finally, what groups do we see
in our communities offering abundant life to those who are struggling; groups
like Foodbank, Te Tuinga Whanau and the Acorn Trust. Are we able to join that
work in some way as part of our response?
Comments