The Land of the Living: A Sermon for 4 Easter

One thing I love about the 4th Sunday of Easter is that we are given the opportunity to reflect Psalm 23 in a context other than death, dying, and bereavement. It is rare that I preside over a funeral that doesn’t include Psalm 23, and for good reason. It is simply one of best scriptural passages to be read and reflected upon at the time of death.  It is remarkable- nothing short of a miracle - how Psalm 23 has carried countless numbers of folks – myself included - through times of seemingly inconsolable grief and trouble. 

But today, I’d like 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 facility, or funeral service. After all, I don’t know about you, but I need the Lord to revive my soul and guide me along right pathways now – today, tomorrow, and in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. I need Jesus now!

Since Easter Sunday, at our weekly Tree House chapel services, I have been greeting the children with “Happy Easter!” They are quick to correct me, saying, “It’s not Easter!” And I am 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 new, embodied, and eternal life. 

So in the midst of this season of resurrection, the Church has decided – on this 4th Sunday of Easter – to have us reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. 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 are at the “end” to have our souls revived, and to be steered towards right pathways for his Name’s sake? 

This past week, our nation watched and responded in various ways to the Derek Chauvin trial. My social media feeds were full of folks celebrating that justice had been served. There was a palpable sense of relief and rejoicing. But what struck me was the bravado with which many folks were celebrating. It was as if now that Chauvin had been convicted of murder, all is right in the world and we could go on about our business. 

Yes, Chauvin was held accountable in the court of law for his actions, and that is a good and essential thing. But as Christians, does all justice and righteousness begin and end with our secular laws and justice system? It is a good thing that I am not a murderer, or any other sort of criminal. That goes without saying. But I am a sinner who is in need of redemption every bit as much as Derek Chauvin is. God doesn’t love me one bit more than he loves Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, or anybody else. As such, with God’s help, I am called to ponder and work out my own salvation with humility, fear, and trembling. And in doing so, I must rely solely on God’s grace, love, and mercy. I need the Lord as my Shepherd as much as anybody else, even a convicted murderer. The minute I become my own shepherd because I think of myself as a “good person,” I am lost. 

Please don’t get me wrong - I was relieved that the Chauvin verdict turned out the way that it did. But more than anything, I felt sad this week. First and foremost, I felt sad for George Floyd and his loved ones. This verdict, while redemptive in many ways, doesn’t bring him back to life. They will still have to live with their grief, hurt, and possible anger. 

I felt sad for our country, which continues to be plagued by America's original sin of racism. You and I all know that it will be a matter of time before something similar to this happens again. 

I felt sad for law enforcement officers who selflessly serve and protect our communities, putting their lives at risk while simultaneously having to defend their own existence and vocation. And finally, I felt sad for Derek Chauvin, and I pray that he will seek God’s forgiveness for what he did. God is not done with Derek Chauvin, and I pray that Mr. Chauvin will respond to God’s offer of grace and forgiveness. 

All of us are in desperate need of the Good Shepherd to restore our souls and lead us in paths of righteousness. If we listen for and respond to 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 led to sit at the table, directly across from our enemy, the Shepherd anoints our head with oil, and our cup runs over. 

So, in the land of the living - both here and beyond, the Good Shepherd leads us to green pastures and beside still waters. In the land of the living, the Good Shepherd comforts and protects us. But the scandalous news is that in the land of the living, as we follow the steady call of the Good Shepherd, he will lead us to our enemies. But rather than going to battle against them, we will sit down for table fellowship, with Jesus - Good Shepherd - as our Host. There, we will all be anointed, and our cups will overflow. In the land of the living, George Floyd and Derek Chauvin will share a meal together with the Lord as their host. And that is when justice will be fully realized.

When interpreted like this, Psalm 23 sounds like the ole Bait & Switch. Everything is beautiful and perfect and then “bam!,” I’m sitting face to face with my enemy with Jesus looking on. 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, 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, and follow where he leads, his goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives – not just at the end of our lives. As such, let us follow God’s call for us to dwell in the land of the living - to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.