This Sunday, we dove into a Gospel reading that can feel a "wee bit confusing." Jesus describes himself as both the gate and the shepherd at the same time! To make sense of it, we looked at the passage verse by verse, stripping away our modern images of lush green fields and replacing them with the rugged, dusty reality of ancient Israel.
Here is a recap of what we learned about finding our way through the noise of the world.
1. Setting the Scene
In Woodplumpton, we are used to well-fenced fields and safe countrysides. But the context Jesus was teaching in was much more dangerous. The "sheep-pen" was often just a rough enclosure with one opening. At night, the shepherd would literally lie down across that opening. He became the gate. Nothing could get to the sheep without going through him. This wasn't just a job; it was a life-and-death commitment.
2. Competing Voices
Right from the start, Jesus presents us with two types of voices: the Good Shepherd and the "thieves and bandits."
We live in a world of competing forces fighting for our hearts and souls. Every day, we are bombarded by voices telling us how to act, what to buy, and who to be. The question for us today is: Which voice are you allowing to speak into your hopes and fears?
3. A Voice You Can Recognise
One of the most beautiful things about the Good Shepherd is that he doesn't drive his flock from behind; he leads from the front. The sheep follow him because they know his voice.
I’m often asked, "How can I hear from God?" My answer is usually simple: Read your Bible. If you want to hear the audible voice of God, try reading it out loud! Whether your Bible is sat on a shelf gathering dust or is dog-eared and held together with duct tape, that is where the Shepherd speaks to us today.
The Lamb from Devon There is a lovely story from a shepherdess named Phoebe. She once sold a hand-reared lamb to a local farmer. Two years later, she was walking through those same fields and a sheep came sprinting toward her, nuzzling her pockets. Even after years apart, that sheep remembered her voice.
4. Trusting the Leader
The Pharisees of Jesus’ time led through power and ego. But the Kingdom of God is built on service. We can trust the voice of Jesus because he has been appointed by God and has our best interests at heart. He knows you intimately, by name, and his motive is never self-interest, but your protection and growth.
How to Stay "Tuned In"
To trust a voice, you have to know it. We can stay tuned to the Shepherd through three simple, tried-and-tested methods:
Reading and dwelling on the Word of God.
Praying and communicating as we journey through our week.
Gathering together at St Anne’s to meet Jesus in word and sacrament.
Conclusion: Life to the Full
The world is full of influencers and "travel bloggers" offering a version of the perfect life. But eventually, the gloss fades. The new becomes old, and the adventure becomes routine.
The "thief" comes to steal and destroy the truth of who you are. But the Good Shepherd comes so that you may have life to the full. The one who spoke you into existence and knows the number of hairs on your head has a plan for you that is better than anything you could imagine.
This week, amid the chorus of the world, listen for the one who is calling your name.
Fr Martin