2nd Sunday after Easter
Misericordia Sonntag (Domini) or Shepherd (Good Shepherd) Sunday
“I am the good shepherd….My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life.” John 10:11, 27-28
Theme/ Focus of the week: “The Good Shepherd”
Psalms for the week: 23 and 33
Sunday Lessons:
O.T. Lesson: Ezek. 34:1-16 or Jer. 23:1-8
Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 2:21b - 25
Gospel Lesson: John 10: 11-16
M. Eph. 2:4-10 John 10:1-11
T. Matt. 26:31-35 Matt. 14:23-33
W. John 21: 15 -19 Matt. 18:10-14
T. 1 Peter 5:1 - 4 Ezek. 34:23 - 31
F. John 18:1 - 9 Heb. 13: 12 - 21
S. Acts 20: 28 -32 John 10: 27 - 30
Prayer for the Week
“O Savior Christ, who dost lead to immortal blessedness those who commit themselves to thee: Grant that we, being weak, presume not to trust in ourselves but may always have thee before our eyes, to follow thee, our guide; that thou who only knows the way, mayest lead us to our heavenly desires, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory for ever. Amen.
Saturday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week May 2, 2020
Texts for the day: Acts 20:28-32 and John 10:27-30
In Acts the Overseers have been made such by the Holy Spirit. And this office of “Overseer” is for the purpose of caring for the church of God.
An overseer is to pay careful attention to self and to the whole flock.
“The church of God has been obtained with his own blood. “
Paul is speaking here to the Ephesian Elders (Presbyters, Pastors) And he reminds them that it is Jesus who purchased the flock of God with his own blood. The Overseers didn’t purchase the Flock (the church of God). They are therefore under-shepherds of the “One and Only Good Shepherd”
Paul declares that he knows that after his departure from Ephesus “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them……therefore be alert”
Indeed this has often happened down through the years and in our present day it has clearly been happening. - the Hirelings and the Wolves are numerous.
But those doing the Work of Overseer as an Under-shepherd of the One Shepherd of the Flock strive to lift up Only the Word of God.
They do so knowing the Word of Jesus in Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel. Verse 27 is powerful “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father. who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
That focus in the Word of Jesus should make every overseer (Elder, Presbyter) know that not only the Flock (the sheep) but also each of them have the assurance of eternal life and of never perishing Only Because of Jesus the Good Shepherd of the Sheep.
Even a Paul who as Saul persecuted believers and even a Peter who denied that He knew Jesus are included in those given to The Good Shepherd by the Father and thus have the Assurance of Eternal Life and that he will never perish are included in these words of Jesus. And so if the Holy Spirit of God has enabled you to believe in “Only Jesus” as your Good Shepherd then you too - under-shepherd or ordinary Sheep are given this wonderful assurance by the Word of God. That Word results in Jubilation (Making a Joyful Noise unto the Lord) as the Easter celebration continues.
Friday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week May 1, 2020
Texts for the day: John 18:1-9 and Hebrews 13:12-21
The John Text is the account of the Arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In connection with the Misericordia Sonntag theme of the Good Shepherd we especially hear the emphasis at the conclusion of the Text that all of this was a fulfillment of the word which He (Jesus) had spoken “of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”That is a reference to the Words of the Prayer to the Father by Jesus set forth in Chapter 17 where Jesus prays that the Holy Father keep those given to him in His Name. The sheep that are given to Jesus by the Father are the subjects of this prayer. And so here in the John 18 Text we see Jesus laying down his life for the Sheep as the one and only Good Shepherd of the Sheep.
Then in the Hebrews Text - Jesus is described as “also suffering outside the gate”(which would be Gethsemane) “ in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.” Here as in John the emphasis is upon the One and Only Good Shepherd of the Sheep of God laying down his Life for the sake of the Sheep.
It is this action by the Good Shepherd that Sanctifies the Sheep (Makes the Sheep Holy). It is not the action of the Sheep but the action of the Shepherd that Sanctifies.
In Thankfulness the Sheep (the people) are to struggle to imitate their Shepherd (bearing suffering and difficulty). A sacrifice of Praise is the expression of Thankfulness even in the midst of going through ordeals - even dying and death. That is why it is called a sacrifice - A tough thing to do.
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”
The Hebrews Text ends with a wonderful Benediction - “Now may the God of peace who brought you again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen”
The Theme of last week is in this Benediction Prayer for each of us, namely, “NEW LIFE” or being “BORN ANEW”. “The God of peace who brought you again from the dead our Lord Jesus”
And then comes the theme for this week “ “our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep”
And we are being pointed to the Theme for the coming week (Jubilate) where we are to make a Joyful noice unto the Lord. This is what we are being equipped to do even in the midst of Sufferings outside the gate and inside the gate of this life’s journey.
Thursday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week April 30, 2020
Texts for our reflection: Ezekiel 34:23-31 and 1 Peter 5:1-4
In Ezekiel, which like all of the Old Testament in our Confessional and Biblical Lutheran understanding is pointing to Jesus not only as the descendant of David but as the Son of God, In Vs 22 God declares through the Prophet: “I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey” Then in our Text for today comes the declaration by God: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.”
Well David had crossed into the Kingdom a goodly number of years before Ezekiel speaks these Words of God. So he is speaking of a descendent of David to come and we believe he is pointing only to Jesus who is to be set up as THE One Shepherd of the Sheep. Then follows a description of the Lord’s covenant of peace which will be made in and through the One Shepherd. Among the wonderful things that will take place is the verse “I will break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no longer be a prey to the nations.”
I am certain the founders of the American Republic in the United States had these verses deeply in mind along with Paul’s words to the Galatians that “It is for freedom that Christ has set you Free, so do not fall back into Slavery of any kind.”.
The Good Shepherd ensures his sheep have Freedom from Slavery and fear.
Our Text ends with the emphasis “And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture and I am your God, declares the Lord God.” When life challenges get one down this is a very good proclamation to remember and to focus upon. Read the 23rd Psalm and taken from verse 26 is the phrase “Showers of Blessing” coming from God’s New Covenant of Peace under the One Shepherd. A good old Hymn to Hum or to Sing is “Showers of Blessing” or “Blessed Assurance”.
Then in 1 Peter 5:1 - Peter is exhorting the Elders (and the Deacons) to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly as God would have you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.”
This illustrates that even the Elders (Pastors) are ungdershepherds of the one Shepherd - The Good shepherd of the Sheep. Interesting that there is no mention of a human organization called “Church” but the focus is upon “The Flock that is among you”. That Flock consists of those who “Believe” in the one and Only Shepherd. The word or phrase “Una Sancta” (The One Holy Flock) again comes to mind versus “Iure humano” (human organization) .
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” The Chief Shepherd of the Sheep is the only one who is truly the Good Shepherd and that is “ONLY JESUS” (Solus Christus).
That is a good word for all of us who are in the “organized Churches” which are “Iure humano” (human organizations even when called Church). As has been mentioned earlier in our reflections this week. All Believers - in every walk of life (vocation) are given the office of being “under-shepherds of the One Shepherd (The Chief Shepherd) of the Sheep. and so this text shows all under-shepherds how to struggle to thankfully practice their duty of under shepherding. It is a struggle! No human being does it perfectly BUT as we are thankful for what the Chief Shepherd the one and only Good Shepherd has done for us his Sheep we then thankfully struggle, imperfect though we be, to follow his example and to set an example for others.
So we have Blessed assurance and Showers of Blessing from the Word of God in Ezekiel pointing us to the Only Good Shepherd and then in 1 Peter we are given guidance about how to struggle to live as under-shepherds of the The Chief Shepherd of the Flock, Jesus Our One and Only Good Shepherd!
Wednesday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week April 29, 2020
Texts: Matthew 18:10-14 and John 21:15-19
In the Matthew text for this day the “Little Ones” of God - The believers - are likened to little children. “New born babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word” was the description in the theme for last week. But in this Text the move is made from “little ones” to Sheep that get lost.
The owner of the sheep (who in this case is The Good Shepherd) leaves the 99 and searches for the one who is lost. Here in the Matthew Account the wording is that “If he finds it” there is rejoicing. In the Luke account of the Lost Sheep the wording is “Until he finds it.”
Our Good Shepherd searches for the lost Sheep / the little ones/ believers who have gone astray is the common theme. In this Matthew Text there is great rejoicing “If the lost is found.” In the Luke Text the search continues “Until the lost Sheep is found” and likewise there is great rejoicing.
The Theme is very similar to the the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In both the Matthew and Luke texts the Good Shepherd/ Owner of the Sheep does not give up the Search.
So when we, like sheep, are scattered by the Wolf or have gone astray the wonderful good news is that the Lord our Shepherd is searching for us and does not give up on the search for us.
The Lord Is your/ my Shepherd!
In the John 21 Text the Resurrected Jesus (The Good Shepherd) is with Peter who had denied him three times on Good Friday.
And so the Resurrected Lord asks Peter three times “Do you Love me?” and following Peter’s affirmation of his Love for Jesus, The Resurrected Lord three times emphasizes the Calling to Peter to “Feed the Lambs and to Feed the Sheep”
“Feed My lambs….Tend My Sheep….Feed My Sheep”
Peter (and all who become part of the Apostle/ Pastor/ Presbyter Calling) are being made “Under-Shepherd’s of The Good Shepherd). The call is to feed “the Sincere Milk of the Word” and to tend the little ones with the “Sincere Milk of the Word”.
The Goodness of the Lord The Good Shepherd (Misericordia) is wonderfully connected with the theme and message of “New Life” (Quasi Modo Geniti), our focus of the previous week.
All Believers to one degree or another are called to be Undershepherd’s to the Good Shepherd of the Sheep.
Tuesday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week April 28, 2020
Texts: Matthew 26:31-35 and Matthew 14:23-33
In the first of the texts from Matthew - Jesus not only foretells Peter’s Denial but also is referring to himself as the fulfillment of the Old Testament proclamation that he is the Shepherd of the sheep who will be struck down with the result that the flock of believers will be scattered.
Clearly he knows that he is “The Good Shepherd” of the Sheep and that he will lay down his life for the Sheep - even for three times denier, Peter.
“But after I am raised up I will go before you….”
And so laying down his life for the sheep and taking it up again for the sheep is emphasized even during Holy week.
You are one of the Sheep of the Lord’s Flock for who his life was stricken and then raised up.
The 2nd Matthew Text recounting the Walking on the Water by Jesus is one of the passages that show us who exactly this Shepherd of the Sheep really is!
Jesus comes walking toward them as they are in the boat a long way from land with the boat being beaten by the Waves and the Wind. When they see him walking on the Sea toward them they are terrified and think he is a Ghost.
Peter, who will later still deny Jesus as we read in Matthew 26 with trepidation says “Lord if it is really you bid me (Command me) to come to you on the Water. Jesus says “Come” and Peter got out of the boat and walked on Water toward Jesus until he got out of focus and thinks only of the Wind. Then he begins to sink.
The Good Shepherd does not let him sink but reaches out and takes hold of Peter - They are still on the Sea. Jesus and Peter are not in the boat.
The Word of Jesus is important to hear! “ Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Those are words of Jesus the Shepherd to frightened and fearful Sheep.
And when they (Jesus and Peter) got into the boat the wind ceased. “and those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
Bingo! There you have it out in the open. Our Good Shepherd is truly the Son of God! Only Jesus is God in the Flesh. In Him Alone we see the Goodness of God.
Monday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd week April 27, 2020
Texts: Ephesians 2:4-10 and John 10:1-11
In Ephesians Paul sets forth the amazing Goodness of God with the Focus upon “Grace”.
Grace equals Gratis. It is unconditional goodness toward us by God.
If you back up to verse 1 of chapter 2 there you read that “You (we) were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you (we) once walked…..BUT God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - By grace you have been saved - and raise us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…….”
Amazing goodness of God!!! Amazing Goodness of God to and for you (Us). Again our dear Dr. Luther - the two central words are: “For You!”
In Jesus we see the Goodness of the Lord “For You!” (For Us). It is the Grace of God that saves us and gives us a place in Heaven!
Paul will conclude this section of Text with that wonderful passage so beloved by Believers who understand or more to the point become aware via the Holy Spirit of God’s Grace…..”For by grace you have bee saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
We are and will be raised up with Jesus and seated with Jesus in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus So that in the coming ages he (God) might show the immeasurable riches
of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
God does all of this out of His Goodness! The Goodness of the Lord is showered upon us and will be showered upon us in the ages to come.
The Text from John is the portion of John 10 that precedes the Gospel Lesson for this past 3rd Sunday of Easter (2nd Sunday after Easter).
The Shepherd of the Sheep who enters by the Door is Jesus. He is the Door and we are His sheep. We are to listen to his voice for He Alone is the Good Shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the Sheep (For YOU/ For US).
In Good Friday and Easter Resurrection we see the true nature of our God (The one and only God of heaven and earth). He takes our deserved punishment upon himself and then includes us in His Resurrection to Life.
So as Easter Celebration continues we proclaim “The Goodness of our God” (Misericordia) - The Goodness of our Shepherd.