Memorial United Methodist Church

Memorial United Methodist Church
White Plains, New York 10605

Model Day Workers and Nannies

A Sermon by Joe Agne, Pastor
Based on John 10:11-18
May 3, 2009 (Not edited or proofread)

John 10:11-18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.¹²The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes^* it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’

I am a model shepherd caring for others

I am a model nanny. I am a model day-worker. I am a model migrant-worker. I am a model CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at a nursing home. I am a model undocumented worker. I am a model child-care worker. I am a model table-server. I am a model sanitation-worker. There are two things I want to emphasize about Jesus calling himself the Good Shepherd in verse 11. The word translated “good” here is “kalos” which would be better translated “model.” It is not the opposite of bad. This is another way of saying that Jesus is the Way, a way of caring, a way of caring at any cost. We are not so much called in this passage to be “good,” rather to live caring for others, whatever the cost. The other thing about shepherd is that in its original context this is not a romanticized profession. The life of a shepherd was not picturesque. It was dangerous, risky and menial. Shepherds spent their times in fields caring for smelly animals, not in polite society discussing ideas and concepts. Shepherds were ostracized people as were so many people featured in the story of Jesus: women, tax collectors, Samaritans, people with leprosy and people needing healing. The angels come to shepherds to tell of the birth of Jesus. Then Jesus goes through this list of “I am” statements. I am the way, the truth, the light, life, the gate, bread, vine. You know most of these. These can be easily affirmed. Then he says, “I am a model shepherd. I care so much that I give up my life for others.” It was an affront to the leaders of his time to call himself shepherd. Also he told a story about a shepherd leaving 99 sheep to seek after the lost one. You can bet that the people in charge around Jesus were pretty sure he was the lost one. There are many in our society who offer the care and love that our children, our infirm and our creation need. While they might not receive much recognition and respect they are today’s “model shepherds.”

ntimate relationships

There was not a worker in my home who helped raise me. There was not an aunt or uncle who helped raised me. There was a local congregation that helped raised me. At Trinity Evangelical United Brethern Church people knew my voice and I knew theirs – the voice of Mrs. Neuman, McClory and Hobbs. The voice of Mr. Ortciger and Reverends Buller, Jordan and Neuman. I knew them and they knew me. I did know the loving voice of sisters. I have heard some of you tell of persons who lived with you or came to your home every day and they were not of your family, biologically. Yet they were very much part of your nurture. With these persons you could share your feelings and try out ideas and ways of living. This was in intimate relationship that really mattered to you. Parents loved you and loved you very much. Yet these persons, who came to be in your family, for whatever reasons, offered you a unique love that is beyond simple description. This is the kind of love Jesus is describing in verses 14 and 15, when he speaks of the care between sheep and shepherd. He speaks of a closeness like the closeness people can experience with God. Jesus felt so close to God that he called God “Abba,” or “Daddy, dear Daddy.” All of us long to be known and valued. The model shepherd teaches us to care for others in a way that they feel known and valued.

Our caring extends beyond our own fold.

There is sentence in this passage, verse 16, that is pertinent to our interfaith living these days in Westchester County and the world. “I have sheep that do not belong to this fold.” Some have interpreted this is the past, and some in the present, to mean that we are to go get people of other folds and bring them to the Christian fold, because they belong to Jesus. I don’t think this is a passage about fold stealing. Rather it encourages us to care beyond our own fold. I feel you have brought me (and the Bishop has appointed me) to White Plains as a pastor with all the people, not just the people of our congregation. My care is not delimited to United Methodists, as loving as you are. You and I don’t just care for our own. We care for people of other folds: other Christian folds, Jewish folds, Muslim folds, Buddhist folds, atheist folds, agnostic folds, Wiccan folds and people who do not feel a part of any fold at all. There is something very important here. Jesus is expanding our concept of fold. The fold includes the whole human family and even the creation itself.

Taking risks

The model shepherd risks her life for her sheep. This way of living that Jesus is offering is risky. Jesus speaks of willingly choosing to risk his life for others. The shepherd does not live a protected life. There are other animals out there that threaten. There are thieves who will gladly steal sheep. I wonder if the biggest block to more people joining a church is that we offer so little invitation to risk. We say you will be comfortable here. You will be welcomed here. You can come when you want here. Where is the risk? I think people want to put their lives on the line and we have backed a long way away from this. I also think people are putting their lives on the line everyday and they need a congregation that will say, “I’ve got your back.” The life of the model shepherd is one of risk. I wonder what we are willing to risk to care for others in our congregation. What are willing to risk to care for people of other folds? What are we willing to risk to care for the entire human fold and the entire creation?

In the mission statement of our church we way “We invite and welcome people to the abundant way of Jesus Christ through a balanced journey inward and journey outward.” According the story of Jesus as a model shepherd this abundant way includes caring for others, intimate relationships, caring beyond our own folds and risk-taking. So….