The Land of the Living: Sermon for 4 Easter

Back in the Season of Epiphany, I remember sitting in my seat as the Epistle lesson was being read, and thinking, gosh, maybe I should ask if anybody in the congregation would like to come up to the front here and get married.  The reason that came to my mind was that we had all the makings of a lovely wedding that day – the gathered community, the choir, the clergy, and the clincher was that our epistle lesson for the day was that great passage from 1st Corinthians that many of us probably assume is a mandatory part of our wedding liturgy: Love is patient, love is kind…

Well today, it might be a little awkward if I were to ask if anybody would like to get buried today, so I won’t do that… but, we do have all the makings of a lovely funeral this morning– the gathered community, the choir, the clergy, the Paschal candle, and two readings that many of us probably assume are a mandatory part of the funeral liturgy: Psalm 23 – “the Lord is my shepherd” - and Revelation 7 – “God will wipe away every tear.”

Indeed, Psalm 23 and Revelation 7 are terrific passages to be read and reflected upon at the time of death.  I can’t tell you how many times I read Psalm 23 at the bedside of a patient during my year as a hospital chaplain.  And during my first year as a priest, I preached on Psalm 23 twice in one month – both times at funerals for young adults in our parish who had died suddenly and tragically.  Whenever I find myself struggling with what to make of or believe about our Holy Scriptures, all I have to do is remember how Psalm 23 has carried countless throngs of folks – myself included - through times of seemingly inconsolable grief and trouble.

 But today, I’d like to take the opportunity to look at Psalm 23 not as a text for death, but rather, as text for life. Let’s not relegate “the Lord is my shepherd” to only the hospital room, hospice care, or funeral service. After all, I don’t know about you, but I need to Lord to revive my soul and guide me along right pathways now – today, tomorrow, and in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.

 Last week, during the Treehouse Chapel service, I greeted the kids with “Happy Easter!” They were quick to correct me, saying, “It’s not Easter!” Well, I was just as quick to correct them by reminding them that Easter is not a day, but a season that lasts fifty days. So until we reach Pentecost, we are still celebrating Christ’s breaking the chains of death and rising to life everlasting. So we are in the season of life. Springtime is finally upon us – the trees are blooming, the days are longer, and life is more abundant. 

 So in the midst of this season of life, the Church has decided – on this 4th Sunday of Easter – to have us reflect on God as the Good Shepherd.  Some folks refer to this Sunday as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Our opening Collect of the day calls upon God to grant us the discerning hearts to “know him who calls us each by name, and to follow where he leads.” It is so much easier for us to listen and long for the shepherd’s voice when we are near the end of our life here on earth, and as we approach our seat at the heavenly banquet table. That is why the last moments of our lives can oftentimes be so sacred and holy – because we truly feel like the Good Shepherd is guiding us home. So when I hear Psalm 23, I usually find myself imagining the sacred journey from this life to the next, the journey from suffering to healing, the journey from death to eternal life. 

 But with the hustle and bustle of our over-hurried, over-programmed, sensory-overloaded lives, it is much more difficult to discern the gentle voice that calls us to follow while we live. But why should we wait for death to come upon us before we choose to be led to the green pastures, where we can lie down by the still waters? Why should we wait until we at the end of our emotional rope to have our souls revived, and to be steered towards right pathways for his Name’s sake?

 Oftentimes I find myself wondering, “What on earth was the Revised Common Lectionary Committee thinking when they gave us these readings today?” This is not one of those days. Today, they couldn’t have had better timing. This past week, we heard the news of yet another school shooting, tragically killing one youth and injuring several others. Once again, we are left here in a state of shock, anger, and grief, in desperate need of our Good Shepherd.  We seek justice, answers, explanations, and safety. Why is there evil in the world? Why would a loving God allow this to happen? Why didn’t the Good Shepherd lead the children away from the shooter that day? These are all fair and even faithful questions to ask.  And while the Good Shepherd will guide those victims home to their maker, we – the living – need the guidance of the Good Shepherd every bit as much as the dead. 

 Yes, if we listen for the shepherd’s call, we will be strengthened to face evil without fear. In the face of violence and hate we will be comforted.  But, notice, that the shepherd strengthens and comforts us not so we can triumph over our enemies. Rather, the shepherd takes us on a shocking detour – to a table that is spread out in the presence of “those who trouble me,” or in the presence of our “enemies.” Yet, as we are lead to sit at the table, directly across from our enemy, the shepherd anoints our head with oil, and our cup is running over. So, here in the land of the living, in this Season of Life, the Good Shepherd leads us to green pastures, beside still waters. Here in the land of the living, the Good Shepherd comforts and protects us. But the scandalous news is that the whole time we have been following the steady call of the Good Shepherd, he’s been leading us to our enemies. But rather than going to battle against them, we will sit down for table fellowship, with the Good Shepherd as our Host. There, we will all be anointed, and our cups will overflow. 

 When interpreted like this, Psalm 23 sounds like the ole Bait & Switch. But if I am honest with myself, I know how difficult it is for me to willingly choose to sit down and eat with an enemy of mine. So, as long as I am here in the land of the living, I need guidance from the Good Shepherd, even if it involves a bit of a Bait & Switch. And I truly believe that as long as we allow ourselves to stop and listen for that Holy Voice, his goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives – not just at the end of our lives.  And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen.