Based on the Gospel reading: John 10:22-30 

Of all of the images for God in Scripture possibly the favourite is "Jesus, the good shepherd".  The lord who lays down his life for the sheep, the one who knows the sheep by name, the one who leads the sheep beside the still waters is a comforting image.  Here at St. Francis we have that image depicted in the stained glass windows at the entrance to our church.  I am certain that most people in this congregation this morning can quote at least a few verses of the Shepherd's Psalm.  Today, the readings and collects all focus on that lovely image of Christ.  It is an image that should lead us to struggle with our identity as Christians.  What does it mean to follow the good shepherd?  What difference does it make in our lives? How does it change the way we act?

For the people of Jesus' time, it was a powerful image.  The king of Israel was thought of in Davidic terms as the shepherd king of Israel.  It spoke powerfully to the agrarian society in which they lived.  Most of us are far removed from our agrarian roots. Some of us do not even recognize live sheep when we see them. I know this to be true. A parishioner from St. Francis who shall remain nameless was driving through Brooklin, coincidentally my last parish, on the way to Bowmanville. He remarked to his wife about the interesting and life-like lawn ornaments. He was referring to the prize winning Devonshire sheep of one of the local farmers. 

In Palestine today it is still possible to see much the same scene that Jesus saw two thousand years ago.  The Bedouin shepherds live in much the same way that they always have.  You will see them bringing their flocks home from the pasture.  Around dusk, they lead their flocks to the watering hole.  There the flocks get all mixed up together.  Shepherds do not worry about keeping the sheep separated.  When it comes time to go their separate ways, each shepherd has a distinctive call.  They make their call and their sheep separate themselves and follow them home. They know the voice of the shepherd.   

The early Christians struggled with what it meant to be a follower of the Good Shepherd. Christianity had never been intended to become a new faith.  They were Jewish.  The link to the synagogue and their Jewish roots was a strong part of their identity.  When the Jewish community became hostile toward the new sect, they had to struggle against persecution.  They were enthusiastic in their proclamation.  They were fervent in their desire to share the gospel message.  They understood their vocation.  God had clearly called them to continue the earthly work of Christ.  They tried always to grow in the image of the one whom they followed.  They struggled with their identity as Christians. 

Our society can certainly understand the need for identity.  It is of the utmost importance to our culture, particularly for young people.  It colours the way we think of others.  We identify people by the way they speak, by the clothing they wear, or by the colour of their skin.  We tend to choose friends who are like us in appearance, in the way they think, in the way they act.  It is very difficult to break into a group with an identity differing from one's own. 

What identifies us as Christians?  Do we have anything which sets us apart as a community?  Do we have a profile?  Surely if we consider ourselves to be set apart by God then there should be distinguishing characteristics in our lives, things which set us apart from the world and make being a Christian different. 

The good shepherd passage from the gospel of John points out what some of those characteristics ought to be.  For one thing we are belongers.  "You do not believe because you do not belong," Jesus says to the people who confront him about who he is.  They want to know if he is the Messiah.  They want an easy answer.  A yes or no.  They don't want to struggle with who he is.  They don't want to take the time to check it out for themselves.  They want him to plainly identify who he is so that they can believe.  But Jesus tells them clearly that believing is belonging when it comes to one's relationship with God. 

When we belong, it is like being branded.  There is stamped on our attitudes, our manners, our personalities, the sign that we are owned by God.  That is our belief about baptism. We are signed forever with the sign of the cross. We are branded. We belong to God.

Part of our identity as Christians is that sense of belonging to the community.  It is no accident that people come wanting to belong.  If ministry is to be effective then there must be a strong sense of community.  We may be well organized and efficient as a church.  We may have wonderful programs going.  But if people are not made welcome and given a sense that they belong, our community will not grow. 

Those who belong are listeners.  "My sheep hear my voice," said Jesus.  While others in our materialistic society listen for the ring of the cash register, we should be listening for the voice of God.  It may be a still small voice.  Or God may be heard in the whirlwind, the thunder, and the chaos and catastrophe of our lives.  If we are listeners then we will hear the voice of God, soft or loud, communicating with us.  Speaking to us through the symbols of our faith.  Speaking to us as we come to worship.  Speaking to us as we celebrate life.  Speaking to us at times of difficulty and despair.  Speaking to us through our relationships with others.  Speaking to us through our sense of community.           

Finally, those who belong are followers.  "My sheep hear my voice," Jesus says, "and they follow me."  Following means serving God.  Serving others on God's behalf.  We serve God in our families and in our daily lives.  We serve in the community, in the political and economic struggles of our society.  We serve wherever lost sheep are struggling to find meaning and purpose in life. 

It is that sense of service that is our thrust during the month of May as our parish focuses on our mission to the wider church.  We do it through the Diocesan program known as FaithWorks.  The purpose of FaithWorks is to support that part of the diocesan Mission Statement that requires us to embody in action God’s reconciling love, justice, compassion and liberation.  It is also strongly reflected in our parish mission statement.  “Together we are walking with and celebrating the spirit of St. Francis on a journey of worship, service, fellowship and peace.”

You will receive a package of material from FaithWorks.  It seeks and distributes funds from individuals, foundations and parishes like ours for the delivery of direct, practical assistance to those in need or at risk.   Last year all but a handful of parishes in our Diocese responded.  FaithWorks does this through partnership with recipient agencies involved in the delivery of social, health, or community service at local, diocesan, national and global levels.  Part of what we raise in our parish is kept by us to work on our own outreach projects.  Our own parish responded generously, and we were able to do a great deal with those and other donations throughout the year.  Assistance to the DAM, assistance to Father Alex for his studies, food hampers at Christmas, food vouchers for emergency help, donations to the food banks in our area, volunteer hours … The list could go on. 

  That is an important part of our living out of that beautiful image of the good shepherd.  There are times that we may question whether or not we really belong.  We may have trouble hearing the voice of the shepherd now and then.  We may wander a way for a time.  But God continues to lead us beside the still waters, to restore our souls and to bring us back to that sense of belonging.  Amen.