This sermon was delivered by Dianne Bradley on Easter 4: 30th April 2023
I invite us all to note the three images or metaphors which Jesus attributes to himself in this passage from John.
They are ‘Shepherd’, ‘Gate’ Gateway and by implication ‘Voice’.
I am going to approach them indirectly at first by telling a story. Weeks ago Ali asked me to tell this story, well before she or I had looked up what the Gospel reading was for the day. I was unsure until I had. I then saw the neatness of it. Last Sunday she made a point of asking me yet again.
So the story! 2 years ago my daughter Miranda’s 6 and 8 year-old little boys next door asked: “Miranda when you sing and play your guitar please would you open your window so we can hear?” She has known them since birth, loves them and did, does. That led to her having ‘jam’ sessions with them. She insists she doesn’t teach them, that happens elsewhere, but encourages, shares herself and responds to their questions along the way. She delights in them and their enthusiasm especially so, you can imagine, when she learnt that they had gone on-line, found and learnt all her songs. Miranda was overcome with feeling when they sang them back to her. Well 2 years on Lachie is now ten and Josh 8. Josh I hear is doing his own thing and quite talented as he pursues electric guitar, still in relationship with Miranda. Lachie, on the other hand is bound up with Miranda’s old, new and in-composition-stage songs and musical pieces. He is so talented and enthusiastic that he recently played with Miranda and Sue Pratten as ‘Raw Honey’ at a house concert. I’ve seen the video, he is just so talented and gorgeous, obviously delighting in the music. Joy all round. Apparently Miranda had been composing a piece as yet unfinished. He had learnt it and was so insistent that at the end of the concert she gave in and they played it together. Lachie has been such an unexpected gift to Miranda. It in turn delights me.
But this story has a back story of course, one which many of you will know. In the early 1980s, Miranda, Robert and I arrived at St Oswald’s. Here we found a true home where, already, a wonderful inclusive music tradition was established, one of Ian Carrig’s making in which Ian would encourage children with one note or more, to play on Sundays. He did by taking the time and care to compose special arrangements for the hymns so that the children would be included. Ian’s legacy carries till today. For Miranda, being included involved not only Ian’s but also the Paul’s beautiful encouragement that he showed her as she undertook studies in classical guitar at school. Still she reminds Paul, I think, from time to time. Miranda’s love of music has flourished and has borne new life through the love of music and in trusting relationship in the little boys next door.
This is my version of Miranda’s story, but this story belongs to St Oswald’s wealth of stories too. You will be able to recall your own and others. I hope you take the time to remember them in the reflection time after I finish this short homily.
These are gateway stories to new life. I am suggesting that they are in the spirit of the way that Jesus spoke and lived.
The context for John’s Gospel text today follows the story of Jesus giving sight to the blind man by spreading mud and his saliva on the blind man’s eyes then asking him to wash them in the pool of Silom. Afterwards the Pharisees came to interrogate him and his family, accusing him of never have been blind, judging him, as they did Jesus, and then driving him out of their temple community.
So now, coming back to Jesus metaphors and images of himself and his mission.
Jesus as the good shepherd shows the good way of being to his disciples, that is, all those in relationship with him, including ourselves. The Way, we recognise as yet another name he gives himself. His is a gifting of people with the knowledge of the way of discipleship, that is of being in relationship with him and with God, through parables, images and stories from real life experiences. The shepherd of his day led the sheep. They followed because they knew the shepherd’s voice, they were in relationship and trusted their shepherd. This was not the model of the Pharisees who in this case did not encourage but judged and rejected. Jesus alluded to their way as that of “The thief, [who] comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. (John 10.10a)
Jesus says to this day, look at me, listen to me, listen to my Voice.
He points to the way of new life, to himself now as Gate.
Jesus is both Gate and the Gateway to new life.
Jesus as Gate, promises us safety in our relationship with him. In John’s text Jesus offers protection to the people from the false ways of the well-meaning, but rule-bound Pharisees. His preparedness to break Sabbath rules by enabling the blind man to see, challenged the Pharisees. Today he continues to offer safety to our souls, our inner-being and confidence through love and insight. His way is not easy and may demand much of us, but we, in trusting relationship with him, can feel safe from falling from the path to which he calls us, from falling from the way of love, justice, kindness and mercy.
To conclude, Jesus’ names of Shepherd, Gate, and Voice are ways in which he offers himself as Gateway to new life.
I encourage each one of us to reflect with thankfulness upon our own particular stories of insight, grace, peace and joy, coming to us as surprise. To what extent do they reflect our individual desires, and our parish’s desire, to follow and give witness to Jesus’ example of open heartedness, of being a gateway to new life for others?
In hindsight are we able to delight in recognising God’s voice of grace at work in our lives and stories? I have spoken of one story. May we find encouragement in our desire to follow in God’s Way through the noticing and the savouring of God’s good grace in our lives. Remember, Jesus words, “I came that they/we may have life, and have it in abundance”. (John 10.10b)