This sermon was preached on April 21 & 22, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church using the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B. Thanks to my colleague, Pastor Stephanie Sorge Wing for the link to the Michael Soule interview!
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One of
the surprises of following the lectionary to determine the readings we hear in
worship each week is that sometimes those readings align perfectly with other
things going on in the world or the calendar. This kind of alignment can nudge
us to think intentionally about how these things can be in dialogue with one another. This
weekend it so happens that the fourth Sunday of Easter, which is often called
“Good Shepherd Sunday”, falls on the same day as Earth Day.
Earth
Day, begun in 1970, encourages people worldwide to show in word and action our
care for the earth. Often communities gather together to clean beaches and
waterways, plant trees, and celebrate the wonder, beauty, and diversity of
creation. This celebration and action become increasingly important as we learn
more and more how so much of the natural world is threatened, often as a result
of human action.
As
Christians, our care and concern for the earth comes out of our honor for God’s
work of creation, out of God’s command in Genesis for humans to have responsibility
for creation, and out of God’s command to love our neighbors.
Environmentalist
Michael Soule has been crusading for conservation for decades. He is a
scientist by education and training, but ultimately his deep concern for the
environment stems from his passion and love for the diversity of creation. In a
recent interview, he said, “I have always loved, and will always love, wild
nature: Plants and animals. Places that are still intact. Though others might
avoid the word, I insist that we talk about ‘love’ in conservation, because we
only protect what we love.” His words brought to mind Jesus as the good
shepherd, who lays down
his own life to protect what he loves.
Unlike a
hired hand, the good shepherd knows each of the sheep and calls them by name.
The hired hand doesn’t love the sheep; the good shepherd does. The sheep know
the shepherd, know the shepherd’s voice, and trust that the shepherd will lead
them toward good things.
What a
joy it is to be counted among the flock! To be provided with still water and
lush pastures. To know that in the midst of dark valleys or in the presence of
our enemies, we are never alone. On the move or at rest, we are confident that
our good shepherd knows us, loves us, and protects us. When we wander off, when
we are lost, when we find ourselves in danger, the good shepherd seeks us out
and brings us back into relationship and into community as we rejoin the flock.
Jesus the
good shepherd showed us the depth of his love for us by opening his arms to all
on the cross. In laying down his life for us, Jesus destroyed the power of
death, freed us from sin, and freed us for an abundant life of love and service
to God and neighbor.
Following
the example of our good shepherd and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we also
are called to protect, care for, and lay down our lives for one another. As
members of the flock, we seek the well-being of all to whom we are joined by
our mutual relationship with the good shepherd.
Like the
good shepherd, we protect what we love. Quite often, though, “what we love”
includes not just our family and friends, but our money; our possessions; our
image or reputation; our ideals and beliefs. And while these things aren’t
necessarily bad, quite often we end up protecting them at the expense of
vulnerable people who are not deemed worthy of our attention and care.
When we
are joined in the waters of baptism to the flock and family of God, “what we
love” is expanded to include not just our inner circle of family and friends,
but also our neighbors near and far. It includes refugees and immigrants; those
different from us and those with whom we disagree; people of all ages, gender
identities and sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities and wellness
levels, races and ethnicities; and indeed all of creation - plants and
animals, land and water and air. We are all connected, and recognizing and
celebrating our connections always enriches our life.
As
members of the flock and family of God, we show love for one another not just
in our words, but also in our actions. The love that we are shown and the love
that we are called to requires sacrifice. This is what is meant by “laying down
our lives for one another.” We show this love by speaking up on behalf of those
whose voices have been silenced, even when doing so puts us at risk. We show
this love by celebrating justice and thriving for all even when it means
inconvenience for us. We show this love by supporting and encouraging one another
when the world says we ought to be competitive and look out only for ourselves.
We show
this love by thinking about others when we are making choices about how we
spend our money - paying a little more for something that is made ethically and
ensures that workers are paid a living wage; paying attention to packaging and
manufacturing processes that don’t harm the environment; buying items that can
be reused or repurposed, rather than thrown away. These actions are good for
the environment, and also for our sisters and brothers around the world,
particularly the poorest and most vulnerable who are disproportionately
affected by climate change, pollution, and waste.
This is the good news - you are
loved by the good shepherd, deeply and completely. You are cared for,
protected, and never alone. You are part of a flock, a community of God’s
beloved. Guided by the good shepherd, we work together to protect what God
loves, and what we are called to love - one another, and all of God’s creation.
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