Colourful Dreamer

Welcome to Good Shepherd Sunday! All fourth Sundays of Easter are Good Shepherd Sunday. This tradition is a significant theme in scripture and in John’s gospel. Kenneth Bailey [1] proposes this tradition begins with 23 rd Psalm. The writer 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 describes how this basic tradition is then reinterpreted again and again through threats, exile and beyond. And now 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. And we hear echoes of this as Lazarus and Mary hear the shepherd’s voice and respond. Jesus becomes the shepherd ...

Every fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, and the gospel reading is always from John 10, broken up into three chunks. Each year we are invited to reflect on the good shepherd tradition, which begins with the 23 rd Psalm, and how John uses that to depict Jesus living out the character of God the good shepherd. This tradition was not a heart-warming pastoral image but a political statement about those in authority. Based on the hard and dangerous life of shepherds across the Middle East it offers an image of the God who provides,  and contrasts this commitment and compassion with the failings of earthly rules who demanded loyalty and tax. It is a dangerous image. For Jesus to claim to be a shepherd implies critique of those of the ruling class who challenge him. It will get him killed. Like all the gospel writers, John describes Jesus living out this tradition. We see the compassion and commitment of God to all people in Jesus’s life and ministry. It is explicitly des...

This sermon can be listened to here . Gate Pa –  4 th Sunday in Easter - Year A - 2020 Readings: Psalm -                          Psalm 23 First Reading -             Acts 2:42-47 Second Reading -       1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel -                       John 10:1-10 What I want to say: This week we follow up on the 4 th Sunday in Lent this year, when we also read the 23 rd Psalm, and heard the first part of the story we are finishing today – the healing of the man born blind. That Sunday was our last Sunday in our church. We are unsure when we will able to return. What does God being both our protector and provider mean for us at this time? What I want to happen: In a w...

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 23 rd 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...