I wonder what a modern equivalent of a shepherd is? And what is the gate or the sheepfold? I’ve no doubt that if Jesus were telling the story today – the image would be radically different.
I’ve been watching TV this week. Masterchef is dead ... and The Apprentice is back. These programmes with their combination of demanding tasks that eliminate contestants one by one and offer a stupendous reward to the winner are enormously popular. Both have charismatic hosts who inspire admiration from many – there is a contest just to be a contestant.
Now if you haven’t seen it - The Apprentice is headed by Lord Alan Sugar, an entrepreneur who offers an impressive prize to the person who comes out top in a series of eliminatory tests. But watching the latest group of twenty somethings on the TV this week I was struck by the way that they all develop a very similar walk, very similar vocabulary and very similar aspirations .... Sheep! The programme has a huge following especially among the younger age group. More sheep !
Is Alan Sugar perhaps a version of a modern shepherd – beating a group of diverse and contrasting personalities into a flock of business minded sheep? The irresistible combination of money and celebrity seems to be the new ideal that many aim for –seeking pastors to follow in order to arrive safely at their idea of good living or earthly heaven. There is a proven formula offering riches beyond compare, fame and victory.
Now I don’t want to take the analogy too far – for I don’t think the parallel will or should survive. These type of reality shows are really a form of individual competition with one prize – rather than a pattern for collective living and progress. How different it would be if there was a reality show that depended on bringing the whole group to a sustainable and successful end – where others were always invited to join and made welcome? A true shepherd would be one who leads the whole community – not just one or two rather pushy sheep.
Today’s Gospel seems to ask all the difficult questions – How do the sheep recognise the Shepherd ?
It does seem rather obvious doesn’t it – for in the analogy of a shepherd – Jesus is stressing that the good shepherd is certainly one who is trusted and known by the sheep – but there is here the implication that it is one who has the sheep’s best interests at heart.
But Jesus is here being very critical of the Pharisees and those who are in leadership. This passage is set in the John’s gospel just after Jesus has healed a blind man. The Pharisees have objected to this. The Pharisees to whom Jesus is speaking would have seen themselves as the rightful faith leaders of the community – the shepherds of the flock. In their eyes Jesus might well have been labelled by them as an intruder – a potential sheep stealer. And yet it is the Pharisees attitude towards the blind man that is harsh – for they have driven him out of the community ...whereas Jesus – hearing the call, has healed him and has restored him to the fold. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd, but will run away from the stranger. Jesus both affirms his own authority and criticises the Pharisees for their lack of care.
It is the Pharisees who are blind – the Pharisees that are the true thieves and robbers – for they would mislead, lose or destroy the flock. They are spiritually deaf and blind and will neither see the shepherd nor hear his voice.
Secondly – why would the sheep follow the shepherd? It isn’t just the good times – but it is the knowledge that the Shepherd cares for us at all times : the sense of safety both in dark and in the light is unmistakeable. It is no chance that the The 23rd Psalm is a favourite at both weddings and funerals - for we see the fullness of God’s care for us in its words. The shepherd is a protector who lies across the gate and will watch for the marauding attackers at night as well as leading them by day.
Yet John extends this – for Jesus is saying here that he is the gate – the true pathway to abundant life in God. Following the Pharisees will lead to rules – but will not be life giving – will not be life enhancing and will not bring followers nearer to God. Jesus is the way to good pasture – to finding all that is rich and wonderful.
Here then is the obligation. If we are the flock, then we are clearly identified with the shepherd. Will those who see us also see something that tells them about Jesus? Will our life tell them about the abundance of his life and about the reality of God? There is a very real sense in which we must ask ourselves “If people look at us ... will they want to follow ?”
There are days when we can answer with a resounding “YES” - you only have to think of celebration services such as the Easter morning Eucharist and egghunt to see a service that was inclusive, fun for all ages and which spoke of our deep joy in being Christians together. I confess that when I was walking to Salisbury cathedral this week to hear Tom Wright speak at the Sarum lectures, I couldn’t help thinking just how solemn most of the people heading that way were looking. Also in the close were a group of young people singing a version of the Ave Maria by Schubert ... and they looked much happier in comparison. And I did momentarily wonder if the first group were actually going to the dentist instead of to hear one of the most thought provoking theologians of today.
Yet this isn’t a plea to be artificially cheerful – our call to mission is not to force people into a false sense of happiness or to impose further silly obligations to always be joyful in church. That is too simplistic. The crux of the matter lies in speaking with a voice that the people will recognise. Jesus says that the sheep will know the voice of the shepherd – that voice of compassion in bereavement, of friendship in loneliness, of understanding and gentleness to the fearful . For the shepherd’s voice is one of integrity.
The marks of mission are to tell and to teach – but also to tend, and through relationship to transform. If we are to really treasure those with whom we are in contact, we will speak in many ways – with many voices. We must be ready both hear people call and to respond with love.
And I don’t think a little bit of the drive of the reality shows would come amiss. The one thing I have admired in the contestants is their passion -whether it is for food in Masterchef – or for business acumen in the Apprentice. Wouldn’t it be good if we put that much passion into our spreading of the Gospel.
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