Sermon for Easter 4a

While Cassie and I were living in Alexandria we lived in an apartment complex. It was built in the post-world-war-2-boom as lodging for the new Pentagon. Each building held 10 apartments. Immediately around our building were five others - all over looking a parking lot that held about 50 cars. This parking lot was constantly active. People coming and leaving at all hours of the day and night. Secret service officers, teachers, coaches, Pentagon employees, students, retirees, young families, nurses, etc. were awake and active across all three shifts. And with King Street, I-395, and the helicopter flight path to and from the Pentagon all within earshot there was no stop to the sound of traffic. Over the three years we lived there, we got used to the noise and it didn't really bother us. We almost stopped hearing the constant sounds and only noticed the out of the ordinary instead. Our cats, too , got used to the sound. They stopped running and hiding when the Blackhawks flew only a-couple-a-hundred feet above our roof. One thing, however, always amazed me. In the midst of the cacophony of sound that was Northern Virginia, Libby and Lucy could still hear our cars. They somehow knew the distinct engine noise for both cars. Without fail, one of us would pull into the parking lot and at least one cat would jump into the window and offer us a "meow" of welcome. I still don't know how in the midst of all that sound they knew our cars. There were other Mustangs and other CRV's that regularly parked in the lot. There were a hundred different cars moving in and out on any given day. Yet somehow they knew and responded to our sound.
Jesus seems to tell a similar story to the Pharisees this morning. He sets up for them an image that isn't out of the ordinary; A sheepfold. "Jesus' imagery would have been familiar in a society where sheep-farming was a a staple of the economy. The 'fold' or pen was probably a large, communal enclosure where several flocks were herded for safety at night. The calling of the sheep in the morning would be crucial as each shepherd assembled his own flock from the larger herd in the fold. During the night a guard would be hired. He would remain at the only door to the enclosure. Robbers would enter only by scaling the enclosure. The guard would admit only the true shepherds by the door when they arrived in the morning." Bruce Milne, The Message of John, page 145, emphasis mine The sheepfold was a lot like our suburban parking lot - there was constant activity. Sheep from various flocks were coming and going. Animals of prey were lurking about waiting for the opportunity to sneak in through the gate for a snack. Thieves and bandits were trying to scale the walls in order to steal precious wool and meat. I imagine sheepdogs barking, shepherds yelling, and the guard constantly moving about. There must have been noise constantly. Yet in the midst of the cacophony, Jesus tells us, the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd. They would run away from the thieves and the bandits. They were most likely quite leery around the watchman. They didn't come when another shepherd called. Only their shepherd, his distinct tone of voice, would bring them out of the fold. Somehow they knew and responded to their shepherds voice.
We live in a world with an ever growing cacophony of sound and image. I wake up every morning and turn on SportsCenter on ESPN. The screen is almost overwhelming these days. Across the top is the ESPN logo on a blue stripe. The right quarter of the screen is also blue and holds a lineup of the next 6 or so stories. Scrolling across the bottom is constant news, score, and statistical updates. In what is left over they show highlights. These are feeds from ESPN and other network broadcasts and they have network logos, scrolling news, score, and statistical updates, as well as the scoreboard for the game being shown. The SportsCenter anchors talk about the highlights; making witty comments over top of a music track which plays over top of the play-by-play and color announcers from the original broadcast. And somewhere in the midst of all of that, the viewer is supposed to be able to pull out the necessary information of who won and by how much. It is sensory overload, and it happens everywhere. CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, CSPAN. Even as I watched a Scrubs re-run on the CW the other night there was a reminder that in 11 months broadcast television will be a digital signal and that if I was affected I should visit a website to get a coupon. Webpages, newspapers, magazines, and even books - we are bombarded by inputs from all sides. It is a wonder we know anything at all. Somehow, though, we know and respond to the information we are seeking to find.
The cacophany of life exists all over. And, it seems, most especially as we search for the will of God. Jesus was speaking a real truth as he used the image of a sheepfold. There are so many things that would love to have our attention. Thieves, bandits, dogs, watchmen, and other shepherds - each with motives good and bad - each are trying to get us to respond to their voice. Just looking at the religious/spiritual growth section down at books-a-million it is clear that there are many voices. Joel Osteen offers us our "best life now". Joyce Meyer gives away "The Secret to Happiness". Brian McLaren says "Everything Must Change". While Sallie McFague argues that Global Warming gives us "A New Climate for Theology." Where in the cacophony of voices do we find the will of God? Which voice should we be listening for?
It seems to me that the voice we should be listening for is still Jesus'. In the very next verse he declares, "I am the good shepherd." His is the voice we should listen for - and we are given five reasons why. First, Jesus is the one who comes through the gate. He has been given his status by the Father, not by his own will. Second, the people know and respond to his voice. Our setting this morning is just after the healing of the man born blind. He has recognized Jesus as the true shepherd in calling out "Lord, I believe." (9.38). Third, he calls his sheep by name. "It is still common for Eastern shepherds to give particular names to their sheep descriptive of some trait or characteristic of the animal; Long-ears, White-nose, etc. It is in personal terms that Jesus calls his followers."ibid, 146 -Steve Pankey 4/10/08 2:15 PM The fourth feature that identifies Jesus as the true and good shepherd is "the direction he provides. Jesus is the guide to his people. To follow him is not to walk in darkness but to have the light of life (8.12)." He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. "The Pharisees saw their strength lying precisely at this point. They had the law and its application in their hands so were competent to teach people how to live. But they failed to provide guidance because for them living meant 'following the rules'. By contrast, Jesus teaches that living means following a Master. True, there are rules which reflect his character, but the essence is a living relationship with a living Lord." ibid. -Steve Pankey 4/10/08 2:21 PM Finally, Jesus elicits obedience. "Jesus is recognized by his own and they gladly follow" ibid. -Steve Pankey 4/10/08 2:24 PM
It isn't necessarily easy to hear Jesus' voice over and above all the others. But with practice - through prayer and discernment it becomes easier. Just as Libby and Lucy know our car amid many others, and just as I have learned to filter out everything but who won the penguins game so too can each of us learn to be sensitive to the voice of the living God; the one true shepherd. Fortunately enough, we are not left without some clue as to how we might go about learning which voice is the voice of God. The Pharisees to whom Jesus was talking didn't get it. They didn't recognize the voice of the good shepherd. But in the course of history many have. And the it seems to be about perseverance in the tenants of faith we heard read from Acts 2.42; the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayer. We learn what the voice sounds like by hearing the story of others who have heard it. We meet them in places of fellowship from the outlet mall to this church building. We meet the good shepherd every Sunday as we break bread. And ultimately it is through prayer - the two-way communication between God and his Creation that each of us as disciples of Christ meet him as shepherd and Lord. That, it seems to me, is what discipleship is all about - learning to discern the voice of God above all others. In the midst of the cacophony of noise, Jesus calls us each by name offering abundant life. With practice; the Apostle's teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers, we can discern the Good Sheperd's voice above all other noise. What a gift What a promise. Amen.