May 7, 2006  Fourth Sunday after Easter

Gospel: Psalm 23; John 10:11-18

Pastor Gary E. Benson

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota 

 

“Voices”

As people of the church, we are familiar and often hear the 23^rd Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”  We are familiar with the music, “The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.”

 

We are familiar with the image of the Good Shepherd.  In fact we have the beautiful bronze “The Good Shepherd” statue which was done by our ZLC member, Connie Swenson, in 1989.  Truth told, however, even though we are familiar with both the word and image of the Good Shepherd, as with any symbol or piece of art, what does it mean for us? How does it point beyond itself? Do the words or image of the Good Shepherd, in the language of a seminary professor, “Do serious business in our life, impacting our conscience, our intellect, our spirit, our life?”

 

In that regard, I don’t claim to be a shepherd in the agrarian sense, but I do have a sheep dog, a Shetland Sheep Dog named Augie.  Such breed is used by the shepherd for herding the sheep.  As pastors, even though we are often referred to as shepherds of the flock, I think we often feel more like the sheep dog, running around trying to keep the herd intact, directing others to the Shepherd. Regardless, however, of how we feel, the fact is our role as the baptized people of God, our task and calling is to “listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.” 

 

As Jesus said, “My sheep (my people) hear my voice and they follow me.” Isn’t the challenge today to hear the voice of the shepherd amidst all the competing voices?  That is to say, how many people do you listen to in a day?  In the morning I turn on the TV and instantly I hear the voices of those who bring accounts and interpretations of that which is happening in our community, nation, and world.  I come to church and hear the voices of others on staff and those who call and stop in.  Daily I hear the voice of my wife, family, and even Augie the dog has a voice/bark that needs responding to.

 

In the midst of a multitude of voices, what voice do we not only hear and listen to but honestly respond to?  What voice(s) define, motivate, or shape us? In that regard I shared a few years ago the story by Dr. Ron Heifet, who said at a conference, “I tell 100% of my patients what they are to do. 100% listen to my voice. 80% do not follow up and follow through.”

 

Let’s be honest, we can hear the voice of Jesus Christ. We can be strongly reminded through both, symbols and word and the spoken word, yet with all the competing voices around us and within us, “the voice, the word” of the Shepherd often falls not on deaf spiritual hears, but often callous spiritual hearts.  As on the radio and TV, don’t we pick and choose what we will listen to regarding the voice and word and way of God for us? And like all the electronic gadgets that both enhance and clutter our lives, we can easily “turn off” the voice and word of God for us.

 

I listen to the voices around us warning of the bird flu pandemics, voices sharing the threat of nuclear weapons in Iran, voices sharing of the continuing war and death in Iraq and Afghanistan, genocide in the Sudan, the domestic issues of natural disaster, and most urgently the oil prices, say nothing about the voices speaking on behalf of the hungry, the hurting, the lonely.  Truth told so many voices of such great intensity can be and are overwhelming, so much so that we may want to simply close out the voices around us

 

And yet, amidst both the conflicting and chaotic, comes the voice of the Good Shepherd, and, no, such voice is not the voice of answers to take over and solve the litany of our issues and problems, rather the voice of the Shepherd is the voice of promise, hope, and possibility amidst the voices of pain, tragedy and hopelessness.

 

In that regard, I think of Martin Luther, who, when sitting in the Wartburg Castle in 1521-22, was tormented by the voice of evil. And what did he do? He acted, throwing the ink well against the wall and proclaiming in a loud voice, “I am baptized.”  I am claimed by God; I listen to the voice of God’s spirit within.

 

As we gather in worship, we acknowledge the voices of the world which try to direct our every action.  Hearing such voices, we can be confused and overwhelmed.  But listen to that which our Creator and God desires to bless us with as the Good Shepherd. The voice of the Psalmist proclaims, “He (the Good Shepherd) makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul and guides me in right paths.”

 

Amidst voices that tell us what to do, how to do it, where to go, what to buy, and who or what to believe in, where do we go?  Amidst the voices, don’t we long for quiet pastures, a quiet place of peace, still waters as the Psalmist describes?

 

Do we need the certainty or assurance, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and one day I will dwell in the house of the Lord.”  Regardless, be they voices of panic, pandemic, war, personal crisis, challenges at work, unanswered questions as we face the future, still the Shepherd invites us to listen, trust, and follow. Then we will have life and have it abundantly.

 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd – that is not a feeling — that is a fact. He is also the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end.  Know well, voices in this world will come and go. Voices will be bold and voices will be silenced. Only ONE voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd, endures forever.  And throughout the ages, the truth will prevail, “Those who know my voice know me and follow – and I give them eternal life.”