Good Shepherds

Many breathed a sigh of relief at the outcome of last week’s mid-term elections in the US. There were and are many seeking to shepherd people, to have political and moral power, whose true colours show them to be anything but model citizens. Their intent seems to be like the shepherds written about in Jeremiah 23:1-4 - destroying and scattering the sheep and driving them away from God rather than leading them to God.

While it’s heartening that verse 2 says that God will attend to them for their evil doings, my stomach can sink. After all, I’m expected to shepherd people where I serve. Am I scattering my flock or drawing them together? Am I more worried about what results I’m getting or about making it all about God? Am I shepherding them well? Because there certainly are a lot out there who aren’t doing it well and the cost is high.

Verse 3 continues that the faithful remnant is going to be gathered together by God, brought back to the safety of the fold, and made fruitful to multiply. I would love to see that fruit and that multiplying of faith. My prayer is that it’s happening even if I can’t see it easily. My prayer is also that those few in the pews in front of me each week won’t be afraid of the future or dismayed. I hope that they can hear these words on Sunday and be reassured that God meant the part that none will be missing from that place of safety and provision.

We will celebrate together that it is Christ the King Sunday. We will talk about how Jesus is the King of kings who is so much more worthy of our time, attention and worship than anything else competing for it. And then, we jump from the last day of the Church year into Advent. We go from the high of Jesus raised to heaven and holding all power and authority, to reflecting on our need for a Saviour who will turn up as a helpless baby completely dependent on very human parents.

As I start to think more about Advent, this feels like a hard turn in what was a nice flowing several months. It seems a bit of a jolt, especially as I don’t plan to focus on Jesus’ second coming but the time leading up to His birth. And yet, isn’t this what God does in our lives all the time? We think we’re coasting, we may be questioning our path, we may be despairing or in a long season, and suddenly something happens that makes us start to have hope again. It could be the smallest thing, but God places it in front of us and if we’re paying attention we see it for what it is - a lifeline out of a seemingly never-ending “ordinary time”. God shows up unexpectedly and we realize that we aren’t forgotten and that change is coming.

After work I went to a church bazaar at a church where I used to serve. It was winding down and the volunteers looked tired but happy. I filled my shopping bag but I also filled my soul. It was so good being with these folks, most of whom I haven’t seen in a long time, and that compounded by Covid. The bazaar is one of the things they are most proud of and they were able to pull it off after a hiatus. They summoned the energy after a difficult season. They brought a sense of normalcy and celebration and blessed those who came through the door. They provided evidence of having a good shepherd.

As we serve, as we lead, as we continue to walk through challenging times for so many reasons personal to each of us, may we be those who honour the faithful remnant and who remove their fear. May we enable them to serve and show the hope and safety of being with God in the sheepfold. May we always lift up high our Good Shepherd and bear fruit in His honour.