Good Shepherd Sunday

From the beginning, God’s intention was to shepherd his sheep himself. He declared through the Prophet Ezekiel that he was angry with the shepherds of Israel who had spectacularly failed: “I am against them,” he said, and went on to say, “I myself will shepherd my people Israel.” And so in the fulness of time, Christ came to us, God in the flesh, saying in fulfillment, “I am the good shepherd.” He came to lay down his life for the sheep, so full and rich is his lovingkindness for them; he held nothing back from us that he has not given us; he gave his life into death, a sacrifice by which we have been redeemed. And he rose from the dead; but this was not his reward, for his reward is his sheep, whom he gathers to himself for eternity to share in his eternal lovingkindness. And so though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear not evil, for his with us; and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Sermon for the Second Sunday after Easter.
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