23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
This Sunday, for those of us who follow a liturgical calendar, is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. It is called Good Shepherd Sunday because the readings for this Sunday are about Christ the Good Shepherd.
We know that from the earliest days of Christianity that the image of Christ the Good Shepherd was the only image used by believers for almost 200 years, as is reflected in the catacombs of Rome.
On this Sunday there are all sorts of wonderful, comforting images that make us feel all warm and fuzzy: Christ is the shepherd, Christ is the gate, Christ searches for the lost sheep, Christ will lay down his life for his sheep, Christ is the shepherd and guardian of our souls. Surely these ideas brought great comfort to the early Church, a church under persecution, a church of martyrs. They bring comfort today.
But there is another side to the shepherd and that side isn't so gentle. That's what occured to me this Sunday anyway. I, like everyone in the world, has Psalm 23 memorized: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack... and it brings me a lot of joy whenever I hear it, especially at funeral services. This Sunday though I was taken by that little tiny phrase in the middle that says, "your rod and staff give me courage" or as is cited above, "they comfort me". Now what in the world does that mean?
A rod and a staff bring comfort? How? Know I don't know about you but as a child a rod, read belt, was not something I found comfort in. I wasn't an unruly child by any stretch of the imagination and I suppose that was because the very thought of a rod kept me in line.
Anyway, I began to think about my childhood and watching my grandfather and others who tended sheep. And, I began to think about sheep ... we are not counting them so don't doze off, at least not yet. I am going somewhere with this!
Sheep are dumb. They do things that will bring them harm. For example, they will eat grass to its roots thereby killing off future meals, they tend to roam away, they don't run when faced by a wild dog or coyote, they get lost easily.
Sheep however know one thing: follow the shepherd and his voice. But sometimes they are slow in doing that too, so shepherds carry sticks or staffs to poke and prod their sheep along. Try getting your sheep into a corral and you will quickly discover that they don't go willingly. The solution? A stick, and a good jab to the back legs or rump and they'll move. They go right where they belong.
I think God chose the shepherd image not to teach us about Christ but rather to teach us about, well, us. Remember that sheep are dumb part? I suspect that's us. At least it's me. I've been poked at and prodded by Christ for years - through the voices of my dad and mom, through family, through many priests, through friends, through enemies. Seems Christ is always prodding me along. I guess I'm not a very smart sheep.
So how again am I comforted or encouraged by that rod and staff? It's because every time I am poked and prodded I know that Christ is taking me down the path I am supposed to be on. I do try and watch my Shepherd. I do try and hear His voice. But then again, I'm a sheep, I'm easily distracted by a blade of grass over there, or that leaf dancing on the end of a twig, or that sweet cool drink of water in the ditch, well, you get the picture. And as soon as I veer from my course there's that rod again.
Left to my own devices I'd have been lunch for a wolf. I'd probably be better turned into mutton stew. But my Shepherd is patient with me; He has me on His path. I don't know where this path will go, He might have to walk me through a dark valley or two, but I trust He is working at getting me safely to the gate and into that corral He calls "my Father's house". I don't think I can get there by myself, I need my Shepherd, and I need His staff. Poke away Lord, prod as you will and maybe, just maybe, I will end up where...
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
AMDG
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