The wolves come. And when the do, they come to threaten and to snatch and to scatter the sheep. They destroy life. As predators, they may be a natural and vital link in the circle of life…but for sheep that have been domesticated into a herd — they are a mortal enemy. Domesticated sheep are pretty much defenseless when a wolf attacks…because they will not stand together against the wolf and defend themselves. No…no, when they see a wolf, they will run helter-skelter and get themselves lost or cornered…and if there is no one to protect them…no one to keep them together….they will be snatched — and made a meal of for the wolf pack.
That is the way of wolves…and the way of sheep. Jesus calls his followers his sheep. And he knows that again and again…the wolves will come. The wolves in this world will come to threaten and to scatter us…to sow seeds of fear and mistrust..to separate us from one another and divide us. And just like sheep…we will be easily spooked, and without a shepherd to hold us together, without a shepherd to protect us, we will be devoured.
So, if we are the sheep…who are the wolves that threaten Jesus’ flock? What is it that scatters Jesus’ beloved ones…the ones that are gathered here…and the ones who don’t belong to the fold? What fear separates us from one another and sends us helter-skelter out into the wilderness?
Well, in Jesus’ day, one of the threats to God’s people were the very religious authorities that were meant to be their protectors. Jesus compares himself to the good shepherd right after his latest run-in with the Pharisees who were upset about his healing of a blind man. After he was healed, the Pharisees had interrogated the blind man and his parents…and they accused them of lying and hurled insults at him. Why? Because it was impossible for him to be healed…and they were furious that Jesus went ahead and did it without their say-so.. So he’s healed…and now he’s in trouble. Crazy right? But the truth is, the Pharisees don’t really care about the blind man…they only care about their rules and their authority and their way of life. And blind men seeing is outside their experience of “normal”…so it must be bad. Instead of celebrating his sight…instead of rejoicing with him…they attack him. These religious leaders are charged with “shepherding” God’s people, but instead, they let him down…horribly.
Sadly, those charged with “shepherding” in religious communities throughout the centuries have continued to fail just as miserably. Whenever the church has bought into any belief of the superiority of nations or races — for instance — American exceptionalism or White supremacy…the wolves win. They scatter and devour God precious children. When the church has sent missionaries to “civilize” other cultures and wipe out indigenous peoples…when it has defended slavery…when it has rallied behind anti-semitism and brutal crusades…when the church has turned a blind eye to Klan members and refused to stand up to courts that have not accepted the testimony of people with brown skin. Every single time…the wolves have won. Dividing us. Creating fear instead of sowing love.
When church leaders attack victims of clergy sexual abuse — and defend their pastors instead…the wolves win. When the church joins in the tirade against transgender kids and gays and lesbians…the wolves win. When the church buys into rhetoric that runs down Muslims and Jews…the wolves win. When the church raises flags that celebrate nations instead of lifting up Jesus…the wolves win. When the church cares more about protecting itself…protecting its good name…than protecting those who are hurting and cast aside….the wolves win. Dividing us. Creating fear instead of sowing love.
The good shepherd, Jesus, lays down his life to protect the sheep. To protect us. To hold us together. To love us. In fact, this Is how we know love, right? It says it right there in the 2nd reading from 1 John — We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us…and so WE ought to lay down our lives for one another.
When the wolves come, Jesus isn’t worried about protecting himself…he isn’t concerned about protecting his good name– instead he is focused on restoring life and hope to those who have had their names dragged through the mud by the wolves…the religious leaders — the lepers and the “unclean”…the blind and the beggars…the prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus lays down his life…his pride, his good name, his reputation…to care for others. And that is love. That is what it means to protect the flock from the wolves.
And that is what the church is called to be…and do. That is what we are called to be…and do.
We are called to lay down our lives that others might live. To put others first. To risk all that we have …even our good names and our pride…for the sake of love.
Some of the greatest examples of that kind of love come from struggles for civil rights — people like Martin Luther King and all the brave men and women who marched and staged sit-ins and dared to register black voters. People like Harvey Milk and all the LGBT men and women who stood up and spoke up against the cruelty and hatred that marginalized and silenced their community…and the PFLAG families that lovingly stood by their side.
They stood against the wolves…the religious leaders and others who threatened and accused. They willingly laid down their lives…their good names and reputations…as well as their physical lives…to protect others who were hurting. And this…is love.
Martin Luther King had regular death threats against him… civil rights champions and workers then and now are always subject to hatred and violence. But he refused to quit protecting the sheep… the millions of black men and women and children who continued to suffer injustice and cruelty. So, despite the risk, he continued to march…to challenge segregation, to register black voters and bring an end to Jim Crow laws, to advocate for affordable housing and fair labor practices. Dr. King explained, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will.”
He continued to march…and he did lay down his life for God’s people. He was shot by the wolves….by one who was overcome with fear and hatred. And that is love.
Whenever we put love first…whenever we care for those in our world who are hurting first…ahead of our own agenda and our rules and way of life…whenever we refuse to let fear and hatred win…we lay down our lives.
I watched a news item recently about a white police officer in Texas. The department got a noise complaint from about some black kids in the neighborhood who were playing Basketball and being ‘disturbing the peace’. The officer showed up…saw the kids…and joined the basketball game. The complainant was not impressed. But the officer didn’t worry about it. Instead, he recruited more officers to join him for regular basketball games. And then he got donations of more basketballs and hoops for the neighborhood. After a number of years, they even got a couple courts built. And today, that original officer still is friends with that first group of boys he was sent to disperse. According to the “law”, he could have sent those boys on their way or even arrested them. To preserve the complaining neighbors “peace of mind”, he could have been just one more voice swearing at them, threatening them, seeing them as nothing more than hoodlums. But he chose a different way. He laid down his agenda…his plans. He refused to let fear and hatred win. He joined the game. And this is love.
Jesus loves ALL of us. Not the people who look like us or act like us or talk like us. Not just the ones who belong to this fold…but ALL of us. And he will do whatever it takes to protect us from the fear and hate that divides us. He will do whatever it takes to chase off the wolves that threaten our life together…our abundant life. He laid down his life for us…so we ought to lay down our lives for others.
And that is why we are here. We are here because Jesus loves us. And when we put him first…when we remember that Jesus is the center of our identity, our hope, our peace…not anything else…the wolves do not win. When we resist fear and choose to love…not in word or speech…but in truth and action….the wolves do not win. Jesus is our good shepherd…he knows us better than anyone. And we can trust him. In life and in death. Have no fear, my friends. Amen.
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