Easter 4A + Good Shepherd/ Abundant Life + 4.30.23

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Acts 2:42-47, Ps. 23, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10)

Today's first reading is beautiful – the image of the disciples living in perfect harmony, sharing everything. And this stands in stark contrast to the second reading of the first letter of Saint Peter which speaks of enduring injustice and suffering. To clarify, I think this letter may have been addressed to people who, although they were Christians, were still living as slaves or servants in large houses in the ancient world. Although they were internally free as Christians, externally they still suffered from their position in society. And the writer of the letter wants to help them survive their experience and stay faithful to God.

But sadly, this passage and others related to it have been misused over time. Women and men in situations of abuse, and slaves or other oppressed people have felt that God wants them to continue to suffer as a way to follow Jesus. That this is somehow their cross to bear. But this is not the way of our Good Shepherd.

However, it contributes to an effect on our culture that maintains a silence around abuse and mistreatment. This makes me think of a quote I heard from the author Stephen King:

“There'a a phrase, "the elephant in the living room", which purports to describe what it's like to live with a drug addict, an alcoholic, an abuser. People outside such relationships will sometimes ask, "How could you let such a business go on for so many years? Didn't you see the elephant in the living room?" And it's so hard for anyone living in a more normal situation to understand the answer that comes closest to the truth; "I'm sorry, but it was there when I moved in. I didn't know it was an elephant; I thought it was part of the furniture." There comes an aha-moment for some folks - the lucky ones - when they suddenly recognize the difference.”
― Stephen King (from Goodreads.com)

And it's true, isn't it? There are moments in life for many of us when we realize that all is not well. And we have to find something better. A life that we can live fully and without fear. A life of real love.

And this is what we celebrate with Ana Bertha and Reynaldo later today. A love earned at a price. A price of years of searching for someone who would love each other fully. All of us strive to seek a relationship of mutual care, whether it be romantic or it be what we seek in friendships or family relationships. We deserve to be treated well and to treat others well. This does not mean we are perfect. We make mistakes. God, after all, is the only perfect one.

This makes me think of Jesus. Why? Because he, in God, is the first person who shows us what divine love is like. We can see this in today's gospel passage, what we call a description of him as "the gate" and "the Good Shepherd." A gate opens and closes. And so, a gate symbolizes both welcome and acceptance as well as security and protection. Jesus is like a door that opens for us the path to salvation and offers the divine embrace of one who accepts us just as we are. We don't have to be better for Jesus to open his arms to us and accept us as the sheep of his own fold. But also, in Jesus, we are protected. If we draw close to him, although we are never completely protected from the evil of this world, we have a protection and a companion to accompany us through the ups and downs of this life. This is also true of good relationships of couples and close friends. Someone who can't protect us from everything that life may bring, but who will be by our side, no matter what.

Jesus is also the Good Shepherd. There are others who enter our lives just to steal. To steal our spirit, to steal our money or things or our self-esteem. They are not good for us. They are the thieves. But we have a Good Shepherd who is always by our side, always cares for us and always loves us. At the best of times, our relationships of love, family, and friendship reflect in a human and limited way the expansive love of the Good Shepherd.

In today's first reading, we have a vision of harmony. Saint Luke, in Acts, says: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” This is quite the wonderful vision, and one that can be alien to our sometimes-capitalist eyes. Here we see the harmony that exists between the disciples in the ancient church. But I think it can also be a vision for us. Ho can we live in harmony and support each other?

I have been reading a novella called A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers, and in it in a future society that has been rebuilt after ecological collapse, a neo-monk named Dex and a robot are traveling around. The robot, who is the first robot to emerge from a period of time in which robots have been isolated from humans, goes around asking “What do humans need?” And Dex’s father asks the robot what the robots need, and that is what truly gives the robot pause. The wonderful thing, in this future that is imagined, is that there is plentiful food and shelter for all, as well as the other basic necessities. So people just exchange goods with something called “pegs” which, rather than money, are a kind of acknowledgement of a gift or service that can be repurposed. But with a lot of “needs” removed, humans and robots can explore the deeper senses of connection in life- a sense of meaning beyond just the meeting of basic needs. And that is what we hope we can learn in our relationships with each other. How to dream beyond the immediate, and claim a fruitful future together.

So remember, wherever you are today on your journey, you deserve love and a full life. Because yes, there is love for you too. You don't live a stolen life. This life is yours. We are called to a life full of happiness. Our Good Shepherd guides us into wholeness and abundance of life.

Amen.