"I am the Good Shepherd"

Today's lectionary readings draw together two of the most famous images in the Bible. From the Old Testament there is the 23rd Psalm which speaks in pastoral imagery of God leading the traveller through the countryside and even through the "valley of the shadow of death". The Gospel reading is from John's gospel and is the passage where Jesus speaks of himself as the "Good Shepherd". This is one of the "I am" statements by Jesus, all of which are found in John's gospel. Linking the two passages we can see how God is the good shepherd of the Psalm and Jesus assumes the role in John's gospel.

It is, perhaps, difficult in an industrial age to really find oneself in these stories. They speak clearly of the pastoral scene. Yet we would do well to try to see these two similar images in the sort of life we lead today. It is quite easy for me, living in a rural area where the agricultural scene is of mainly sheep farming. But, having lived in the vast conurbation of Greater Manchester, I can see the value of taking time to quietly assess life through the pastoral scene. It is precisely because we are trapped in today's increasingly stressful living that we need, perhaps at the end of a day, to take stock of our life and consider the role of the shepherd.

At the end of his working day, the shepherd of biblical days would lie down across the entrance to the sheepfold. In this way he would be protecting the sheep in the fold by ensuring that any dangerous animal would have to deal with him before attacking the sheep. As he lay there he would stare up at the night sky and see thousands of tiny sources of light across the heavens. He must have wondered what they really were as well as considering their beauty. Lying there he would go back over his day and see a job well done and be content.

But if the shepherd were simply a hired man with no affiliation to this particular flock it would be a different matter. The sheep did not matter as much to him because they belonged to another. There is a difference in commitment expressed in the words of Jesus. He was drawing a comparison between the leaders of Judaism and the Son of God. Jesus was the one who was totally committed to his followers, committed to the point of giving up his life for them. This is a man we can trust.

If you were to compare trustworthy people the one who is prepared to die for you has to be at the very top of the list. No one can be more trustworthy and no one can be more worthy of praise. As Christians we need to see ourselves as in partnership with the Good Shepherd. In his company we can really go places and achieve amazing goals for his sake. Using the imagery of the shepherd working in the pastoral scene, we need also to see that in today's frenetic life we should stop trying to do everything ourselves. Once we do this we come to a place where God can enter and support what we do. Take a step back and allow God to play a part in your life. You will get few prizes for burning yourself out and failing to help others.

Some years ago a former Archbishop of Canterbury was on a visit to the United States. In a press conference a reporter asked him, "Say, your Grace, are you packing them in back there in England?" "One at a time, my man, one at a time" was the Archbishop's reply. We really do need to find time in our busy lives to just pause and let the fresh air in. It is just like opening a window in a stuffy room, and it makes a big difference.

You never see a shepherd dashing to lead his sheep to pasture. I have seen shepherds in Greece where they tend their flocks in the biblical manner. Steadily they stride out to the pastures and the sheep, trustingly, follow them. The next thing one sees is a shepherd leaning on his staff and quietly watching his sheep. Should they wander towards danger a shrill whistle accompanies an accurately thrown stone to get them to move out of the danger zone. From this you can see how David, when a shepherd, was deadly accurate with the sling that killed Goliath. It is commonly thought that his sling was only to fight off dangerous killers but he would also know how to direct the sheep away from danger.

To be a leader using the pastoral image of a shepherd is to be a person of great inspiration. Jesus was nothing if he did not inspire others. It was his mission and he pulled it off. It also teaches us that when we see our heart's desire within our Christian mission it will not be achieved instantly. The mission is a slow deliberate affair. We shall reach those who need Jesus slowly and steadily. That calm approach is, in itself, amazingly inspirational.