SATURDAY, February 17
Read John 10:11-21
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep." (John 10:11-13)
When telling children the Young Children & Worship version of this story, the children watch and listen as a shepherd guides the sheep through dark valleys and away from the wolf. The sheep are led to good, green grass and cool, clear water, and finally back home to the sheepfold. Yet, if we look at the story closer, the shepherd takes the sheep into those dark places. The shepherd purposely guides the sheep through danger.
Jesus' best work is not done inside the security of the sheepfold. As Christians, our best work is not done inside the comfort and security of the sheepfold. Nonetheless, that is often where we like to keep Jesus, and that is where we, as his followers, like to stay.
Shepherding is dangerous work. As Christians, we are called not only to follow Jesus, we are called also to be imitators of Jesus-shepherds, not the hired hands. We are not hired by God, we are called by God to step into the world's darkness to provide light.
And, that is dangerous. It is life-threatening.
In Lent, we are reminded that sometimes being a follower on "the way" means being in dangerous and uncomfortable places. It means putting the safety of others before our very own. Many martyrs of our faith, from St. Andrew to Oscar Romero, gave their lives because they were more than hired hands. They stepped into the world's darkness to show the light of Christ. They knew that following Jesus meant being willing to give their lives so that others might live.
Prayer: Great Shepherd, if our faith in Jesus is what guides us, then why do we let the wolf get a hold of the sheep? Why do we let the sheep get lost in the valley? May we be the ones to get in the way of the wolf, and go into the valley. Amen.
Jay Deskins