Sheep to Shepherd

Our text from Jeremiah today is addressed to the leaders of the people of Israel: the priests and the king. They were the ones whom God called to shepherd God’s people and to guide them so that the whole community would live in the covenant and enjoy the life God had called them to. That life was one of trust and belief. But those same leaders did not themselves trust and believe. They looked around and saw the powerful nations that surrounded them. They saw the riches that other nations had and wanted it. Instead of answering God’s call they answered the call of wealth and fame. This text then was addressed to them. Jeremiah is reminding them that God will judge them more harshly than the people of Israel because they were not only following false gods themselves but were leading those who God put them in charge of to the same place. In punishment God sent the Babylonians to Judah, destroyed the temple and Jerusalem and carried the people off to be slaves in a foreign land.

So you are thinking, “I don’t need to worry, I’m not called to lead people.” This text is only about government officials and pastors. (This text with a few other ones are discussed often in seminaries to remind pastors of the burden they are called to.)  But a careful look at the other texts for today say something a bit different. Our text from Mark is the conclusion of the text from two weeks ago.* In that text Jesus sent the twelve disciples to proclaim repentance and to heal the sick. In today’s text they have returned and Jesus suggests that they take a bit of time for rest. The people did not allow that and beat them to their vacation spot and the work continued. That is the way with God’s call. The disciples who were the sheep became the shepherds. Ephesians says it a bit different; you gentiles who were once far off have been brought near. You who were once two communities are now one, the uncircumcised and the circumcised. We now, together, are the people of God. We now, like the disciples, have become the sheep that shepherd God’s world. How have you fared? How will God judge your actions?

Yes we all are called to bring God’s Word to the world. We are to tell others about Jesus, work for peace and justice, and to help those in need like the widow and foreigner. If you are like me, you have done this sometimes and other times you have not.  The gift is that when we fail, God will not send some foreign nations like the Canadians to conquer us, tear down our homes and churches, and haul us off to Ottawa. Instead God forgives us through the blood of Jesus and gives us another chance. No longer are we afraid of the mistakes that we make. Now, because we are forgiven, we can act boldly and proclaim Jesus to the world. We do this by our kind and loving actions. We treat others as God has treated us. Dear sheep, answer you call, proclaim Jesus, and love the world and those God has sent to you.

*Mark intertwines stories in his gospel. He will start a story, then tell another story, and then finishing the first. This is one of his ways to keep the plot going. Usually the stories are related and the ‘inside’ story emphasizes the point of the story that surrounds it. Sometimes he uses the inside story to make time as he did here. He sent the disciples out to proclaim the gospel, then told the story of John’s beheading, and in today’s text he tells us of the disciple’s return. Sometimes he does both.