Acts 9.36-43

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’ 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

 

REFLECTION

What does this event have to do with Jesus as the Good Shepherd? A faithful member is sick they call Peter and tell him about this faithful servant and he seems moved by their story and heals her. Where is Jesus as shepherd here? The I think it is more about the sheep. Why did they care about Dorcas? Because she was part of the flock. The flock loved their own, the ones who were called by Jesus. Peter went because these were Jesus' flock, the ones he was to feed and tend from last week. Peter was Jesus' presence among the sheep. Peter was guided by the Holy Spirit to give the gift of healing. Jesus reached out through Peter to do what Jesus had done for Lazarus. Jesus is still caring for his flock, but it is important that the flock be one.

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Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd:

therefore can I lack nothing.

2 He will make me lie down in green pastures:

and lead me beside still waters.

3 He will refresh my soul:

and guide me in right pathways for his name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me

in the face of those who trouble me:

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup shall be full.

6 Surely your goodness and loving-kindness

will follow me all the days of my life:

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

 

Revelation 7.9-17

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.
10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 singing, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’
14 I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,
    and worship him day and night within his temple,
    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
    the sun will not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

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REFLECTION  

In this part of the Revelation we see again the reference to the great multitude. John is questioned to see if he knows who they are, but he does not know. They have been cleaned by the blood of Jesus but it is more than being cleansed, they are fed. I am amazed by the response. they worship day and night. a 24/7 worship. People get antsy if the worship goes for more than an hour. We believe that these people love to do it, want to do it. The heart that is changed by the cleansing act. 

Another interesting point is that they worship the lamb, who is also the shepherd. He is one with those that he also shepherds. 

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John 10.22-30

22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ 25 Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.’

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REFLECTION

Jesus uses the shepherd and flock analogy to express the relationship between him and his followers. Jesus does not specify who they were. The 12 disciples? The women? I don't think Jesus worried about defining them or counting them, what he cared about were the ones who followed where he went. A person may follow for a day, or a week. Those who heard and were changed gave up their lives to be a part of Jesus ministry. They would, after Pentecost, leave their countries, to share the gospel message. Do we hear Jesus' voice? Where does it call us? What do we do when we hear it? I believe many hear and turn the music up, find a different activity to do or get excited and then see the hurdles. Maybe they don't hear, and I am making assumptions. Being part of Jesus' flock is hearing and following. That takes many forms, but never changes the call.

 

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