Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Luke 15:1-10 The One I am not a shepherd, and so, perhaps, I am not one to judge, but I do wonder about this shepherd in Jesus’ parable.   I have concerns.   Something seems a little bit off with him.   To me his actions are so strange, I feel like I must be missing something.   In fact, I’d love to be able to access his inner dialogue.   But unfortunately I cannot.   And so how I imagine it, is something like this: 97, 98, 99…   Someone’s missing.   There should be one more.   I probably just miscounted.   OK.   I can just count again.   I wish they would just stand still.   It would make this so much easier.   97, 98, 99… <sigh> One is missing.   What should I do?   What should I do?   Well, I gotta find it.   Alright.   Sheep, listen.   I will be right back.   Stay.   Do you hear me?   Just stay.   Please.   OK...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson John 10:1-10 Good Gate It is Good Shepherd Sunday but where is the shepherd?   Now, it’s true, we are in the middle of the city.   And our property doesn’t exactly lend itself to sheep farming – although I feel confident, if given permission, Mike Saccoccia could make it happen.   But really, because of our total lack of sheep and urban location, we are an unlikely candidate for a large shepherd population. But I did expect a shepherd today.   On this fourth Sunday of Easter, on this Sunday we traditionally call in the Church, “Good Shepherd Sunday”, I expected to find a shepherd.   I expected Jesus to hit the shepherd metaphor pretty hard.   Typically our Gospel reading on this Sunday is all about that wonderfully pastoral image of Jesus the Good Shepherd.   But while all the trappings are there, sheep and sheepfolds, the metaphor Jesus chooses is not the Good Shepherd; not this year.   This year ...