Good Shepherd Sunday - Redeemer Episcopal Church

John 10:1-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus the Good Shepherd

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

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This sermon was preached by me for a certain context in a certain time. But I believe it can speak to others and I hope that it speaks to you by the power of the Holy Spirit. You can read the sermon below, listen to it at this link, or you can watch the video of my sermon being preached from University of North Florida's campus at this link. 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday.

It is the day that we celebrate the beautiful analogy of Jesus being a shepherd, and us being his sheep. The image of Jesus holding, tending, or protecting his sheep is probably one of the most popular depictions of Jesus. I’m sure you can think of one of these images right away. 

There is a lot that can be expanded on in this analogy of the Good Shepherd— we heard about gates and thieves, bandits, and pastures. In other texts we hear about goats and sheep being separated, in the 23rd psalm we hear about green pastures and still waters, comfort and a cup that runneth over. 

I am so thankful to be a part of this community that cares deeply for Jesus’ sheep.

And especially the most vulnerable of the sheep among us.

Including our college students, who we don’t always realize are some of the most vulnerable. Young adults, in general, are often forgotten in congregations because it seems they have little to offer— they’re usually not great at tithing, they are often too busy to volunteer their time, perhaps they travel too much to be consistent in attending. But I’m thankful for you and our community who values them so much that you would be a partner with us in campus ministry. 

In this text and in others, there is a lot that is said about the sheep knowing the voice of the shepherd and I think a lot of us do know the shepherd’s voice— those of us who have grown up in the church or grown into the church, we do know the shepherd’s voice and even if we wandered for a while, we would still be able to hear the shepherd’s voice. It’s familiar to us, comforting, and something we could never forget. When you’ve lived your life so fully enveloped in the shepherd’s voice, it is almost a part of who you are, it’s wrapped up in your identity. 

That’s how I grew up. We were an every-Sunday, every volunteer activity, confirmation is required type of family. The church was very much a part of the rhythm of our family’s routine. And I valued having that foundation when I went to college and began wandering a bit in my faith. 

But many of our college students didn’t grow up that way. They weren’t born into the pasture of church community and they only started hearing about the shepherd once they were older. 

Or perhaps they did grow up in the church and began to wander as time went on. Perhaps the shepherd’s voice is only a distant memory to them by the time they came to college. 

We have a lot of students graduating right now— graduating from high school and college. There are students all across the United States finishing up exams this week, those who are missing graduation, and those who will begin online internship programs soon. Our high school students are beginning to gear up for those exams, receive scholarship news and are beginning to think about where they will go in the fall. Everyone is in a time of transition right now. 

The time period between high school and starting a family is often referred to as the lost years or the unreachable years to the church. But it’s not, really. It’s a time when God is doing really incredible things in young peoples’ lives. It’s a time of big questions, lots of doubting, and sometimes pushing back against what they have been taught for many years. It’s a time for wandering and wondering. And that’s why campus ministry is so vital to this transition time. Young people who are involved in campus ministry are twice as likely to become involved in a congregation once they graduate. 

And our students might not remember the sound of Jesus’ voice calling to them. But we hear from this text that Jesus knows each of them by name. When they wander, God pursues them. As they move away from their familiar circles and begin to ask big questions and have big doubts, Jesus is right there beside them, continuing to call them back to him. 

It was right in the middle of this time of wandering and wonder in my own life when God called me, through campus ministry, to seminary and lit a deep passion for God’s people inside my soul and gave me a desire to serve. 

I mention all of this about our students being in transition, because what they are feeling right now is also what we are feeling. We are facing a lot of transition right now too. Perhaps this time is one in which we can relate most fully to our young adults. Because just like them, many of us are asking big hard questions right now, we are doubting the goodness and sometimes even the presence of God. We are wondering and wandering. But the still waters that God promises to us are present in our baptism. We have already been named and claimed as God’s children. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus continues to tend to us, creating a refuge for us in green pastures. Our good shepherd will never tire of looking for us, no matter how far we wander off. Our shepherd continues with us to revive our souls and guide us along right pathways. 

It is, of course, vitally important that we know Jesus’ voice, that we know the call of our savior. But it is even more important to remember that God knows us. God created us and calls us beloved. God adores us. And wants us to stay near. And as our students wander, and even as we wander, God is pursuing us and gathering us back into community with one another. And when we arrive here again, we will be even more full of joy for the reunion. Amen. 

Old Life --> New Life - Redeemer Episcopal

John 3:1-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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The following sermon was preached by me, Rev. Sarah Locke, on March 8, 2020 at Redeemer Episcopal Church for a specific context and time. You can read the sermon below or listen to the sermon (with infusions from the Spirit) at this link. 

Gracious God, be with us as we sit in the uncomfortable space between our old life and the new one you have promised to us in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

When I did my internship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I had a lot of questions. And I had a lot to learn. It seemed like every aspect of the ministry I had understood to be true and “normal” had been uprooted as soon as my feet hit the soil of this country. 

My supervisor, who was a Lutheran Chinese Malay pastor, was kind of famous for never answering questions and just telling stories instead. Or, to my dismay, when I went to him with sincere, vulnerable questions, he would often wave his hands and insist: “that’s not important.” It was incredibly frustrating. 

That is what I think about when I read this exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. 

Traditionally told, this story is about how Nicodemus can’t understand what Jesus lays out for him so plainly. Nicodemus comes to Jesus with sincere, vulnerable questions, Jesus answers, and Nicodemus is so dense that he doesn’t understand and has to keep asking questions until finally he leaves. 

Many of our campus ministry students are seniors right now, so they’ve been getting questions from friends, relatives, and professors about what they are going to do with their lives once they have their degree in their hands. Perhaps you remember getting those questions yourself when you were younger. Or perhaps you get the same question any time you are approaching a transition. What are you going to do in retirement? What are you going to do since you quit your job? Once you’ve moved to a new city? 

Oftentimes, we don’t have very good answers to these questions. Perhaps we don’t know. And many times that causes great anxiety. But the questions keep coming. 

Graduation is just around the corner for my senior campus ministry students, so when anxiety runs high, I use wise words from Pastor Barbara Brown Taylor: “Your old life is over, it’s okay if you know nothing about the new life.” 

We’re told that Nicodemus came to speak to Jesus at night. We probably think that he couldn’t come by day because he didn’t want people to know. I’m sure that was part of it. But sometimes darkness is the best cover for important conversations. For some reason, it is easier to be vulnerable by candlelight at night than in the bright sunlight of daytime. 

But Jesus does not seem willing to be gentle with Nicodemus. Instead of slowly igniting Nicodemus’ candle of knowledge, he snuffs it out and shines a huge spotlight on Nicodemus’ unknowing.  

A few weeks into my internship in Malaysia, I was tasked with leading a Bible study with a very faithful family in their home. I came ready with all of my big questions about God and probing questions about biblical passages. I remember asking the first question and no one answered. After several minutes of trying to reframe the question, I asked, “No one has an opinion? No one knows what this passage might mean?” They said, “That’s why we’re here. YOU tell us.” “Well, there’s no right answer,” I said with surprise, “only different interpretations.” They were… unsatisfied with that answer. Questions, they said, have correct and incorrect answers. This is how we learn. 

This is what we are used to in most of school, right? When a teacher asks a question, you should know the right answer. That’s how it works. 

So when Nicodemus asks his questions, he expects Jesus to give him the correct answers. Nicodemus goes to Jesus to be enlightened— he wants answers to his questions— but it seems that he leaves even more confused. Perhaps that’s the point. 

Perhaps Jesus is trying to help Nicodemus understand that no one really understands God. We think of this exchange as Jesus being snarky or perhaps even mean to this ignorant Nicodemus, but he assures him that no one knows. God. “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. No one knows where it comes or where is goes. No one. Nicodemus is not special in his ignorance of these things. No one knows, Jesus says. The only thing that sets Nicodemus apart is that he is so uncomfortable in his unknowing, and he thinks he ought to know. 

This makes things uncomfortable for those of us who rely on knowing how things work. If I’m honest with myself, I have a lot of questions, just like Nicodemus: who has access to the Spirit and how, what does it mean to be born again, how does God decide who gets the Spirit and who doesn’t? How can we even be sure we have been born again? 

We don’t know. Because we are not God. And oh what blessed news that is! We aren’t going anything wrong. We are human. And sometimes there is a limit to human knowing. We are simply dust. 

Sometimes when we go to Jesus in the dark and ask, “why, what, how, and when?” We are simply reassured that God is present, Jesus is speaking, and the Spirit is moving. Even when we don’t understand it. This is the reassurance we get when we come to the font in baptism: Your old life is over, it’s okay if you know nothing about the new life.

It is uncomfortable to sit in this unknowing— the transition between the old life and new, the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter morning— but it is in this discomfort that we feel the wind moving, that we hear Jesus speaking, that we look with wonder toward the rising sun. 

Nicodemus approached Jesus wanting to know more, to bring his own knowledge to help him understand God, but ultimately he went away with more questions. And we won’t see Nicodemus again until he pays for the tomb where Jesus’ body will be laid, waiting and hoping— just like us— for the promise of a new life that he knows nothing about. Amen.

Strive for justice and peace in all the earth

"To strive for justice and peace in all the earth is a kind of crescendo at the end of our baptismal commitments. To paraphrase the Gospel according to John, when 'people love darkness more than the light' (3:19), we don’t respond with condemnation but instead by shining Christ’s light to expose the weakness of the shadows." 

This is how Rev. Drew Tucker, the University Pastor at Capital University describes the final baptismal promise. 

Finding time to care about-- let along do anything about-- justice and peace while we are in college can feel incredibly overwhelming. I have heard a lot of critiques of my generation (millennials) and the generations after mine. Whether we are snowflakes, self-absorbed, social media crazed, obsessed with avocado toast, or killing various restaurant chains and industries, there seem to be many reasons to complain about college students these days. Many older people assert that things should just go back to the "good old days" before complications like smart phones and empathy. 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't critical of my own and younger generations at times, but I find so much hope in young adults today as well. It is probably the reason I have a passion for young adult and campus ministry. Not a day goes by that the deep convictions and empathy of people younger than myself teach me to be more like Jesus. 

Indeed, campus ministry is often where the journey in pursuit of justice and peace begin for many people. Josh Hayes, a previous student at Jacob's Porch puts it this way: 

"Campus ministry was where I first heard the term social justice. Nearly everyone I know from JP (Jacob's Porch) is still extremely active in the realm of justice and the pursuit of peace. Though it can be difficult to work toward justice, the knowledge of what it means to those who have been treated unjustly is the most compelling call to action."

Pastor Tucker confirms this idea that sometimes campus ministry is where the roots of justice and peace take hold of God's children and refuse to be pulled up.  

"In my various experience in Lutheran campus ministry, I’ve seen students take the lead on including people who identify as LGBTQ+ fully in the life of the church. I’ve seen campus communities open their empty housing to refugee families in need. I’ve seen white, straight, cisgendered, male students use their privilege to center the voices of people of color, women, immigrants, and others typically marginalized in our society. Most recently, I’ve been invited to celebrate the transition of a student in worship with an affirmation of baptism that honors God's grace offered long before the transition and is now experienced anew in the fullness of his life. For me, campus ministry is where the light of God’s call for justice and peace pierces the shadowy veils of judgment with God’s expansive, inclusive love."

As busy as college students often are, I and others have witnessed over and over again the drive and passion that students have for seeking justice and peace in the places and times they live in today. I have never heard a student say, "I know there is a lot of suffering in the world, but I can't do anything about it now. Let me wait until I graduate." Rather, I more often hear students say things like, "I know there is suffering and injustice in the world, and right here on this campus. How can I be a part of the change right now?"

Although campus ministry doesn't always get it right and we have a long way to go to look like the Kin-dom of God, I love being able to reply, "by joining in what we are doing at campus ministry, you can help us change not only this community but this campus and the world."  

Serve all people following the example of Jesus

As we approach the last few weeks of this Lenten season, we continue to reflect on what it might look like to strive toward our baptismal promises in the context of campus ministry. 

The second to last promise (or, really, only part of the final promise) is to "serve all people following the example of Jesus." 

What a hefty promise. I don't know about you, but I have described myself in many different ways-- none of those ways has been "Jesus-like." We understand Jesus to be the incarnation of our one true God, so how in the world are we supposed to follow Jesus (God's) example? 

Not to mention, this promise also says, "serve all people."

Not "serve people on days you are rested and happy."

Not "serve just the people who look like you." 

Not "serve people who are nice to you and serve you." 

Not "serve people who live near you." 

We are called to serve all people, all the time. Talk about a tall order. 

I have never been so encouraged about this promise as when I worked with the students at Jacob's Porch, the campus ministry at Ohio State. OSU is in the capitol city of Ohio and as such, it has a lot of people and a large homeless population. The area around campus didn't have as many homeless people as downtown, but we still saw them pretty frequently on the city bus, walking to classes, and in the parking lots behind our favorite restaurants. Some of them made a meager living by selling newspapers, others pulled cans and bottles from the dumpsters to sell them. 

The students at Jacob's Porch began to create relationships with some of the homeless men in the area. Somehow, despite all of the other things college students had to worry about on a daily basis, these students thought they should be doing more. We had a free meal with worship every Sunday night (and sometimes other days of the week, too), so they invited the men to come and enjoy the warmth and have a bit of food. The only requirement is that they had to be sober if they wanted to eat and stay. Some just came for dinner, some enjoyed a nap on the couches while we worshiped amidst their snoring. I imagine Jesus really enjoyed these gatherings of misfits and weirdness. (Wouldn't Jesus love coming to worship with a couple of homeless men snoring on couches among young energetic college students singing and stomping praises to God?) 

Some of the more committed students started helping the homeless men find better employment or get counseling for mental illness. It wasn't always easy, but they continue to work hard to serve all people following the example of Jesus. 

Josh Hayes, a student during these interesting years describes it this way: 

"JP (Jacob's Porch) had outreach programs for those struggling in our direct vicinity. we endured numerous setbacks from exposing ourselves in that way, but these did not deter us and made us more convicted in our service. I still see a few of those we assisted thriving when I go back to that area with good jobs and healthy lives we helped spark. Beyond that, we welcomed people into our space and provided comfort, healing, and advice to not only our fellow students, but any individuals we were capable of serving. not only this, but if we were unable to serve them appropriately they were referred directly and clearly to those institutions that could."

To be clear, it wasn't the university asking Jacob's Porch to "fix the homeless problem" or even serve these folks. The pastors in the area didn't even ask the students to participate in the Kin-dom in this way. The students saw people in need around them and served them to the best of their ability. At one point, they were able to provide food to anyone who knocked on the door, any day of the week. It was a wonder to behold, and undeniably humbling.

Live among God's faithful people

I think there is a reason that baptismal covenants often start with something about relationships.

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God's faithful people?

Relationships are quite possibly the most important part of our faith lives. Bonhoeffer's famous book about the Christian life is appropriately named Life Together. We simply cannot be followers of Christ without being in relationship with others. It's not possible.

For many people who were raised within Christian households, this may be second nature. We attended worship services, Bible studies, Sunday School, and maybe some of our closest friends and our parents' friends were from the congregation in which we grew up. It just made sense to live life together as God's people. But sometimes the church, as we experience it growing up, is not the best place for growing toward relationship with others or even toward relationship with God.

I invite you to hear Derek's story as he shared it with me:

"LCM [Lutheran Campus Ministry] taught me what it means to live among God’s faithful people. I grew up in a large church that was impersonal, isolating, and, at times, abusive. Even though I attended this church for over a decade, there was always a metaphorical wall between me and the people that I saw every Sunday: I was afraid to be vulnerable with anyone there. I actually walked away from religion entirely for several years after leaving this church. LCM was instrumental in helping me heal from this experience. At LCM, I found a community where I did not have to wear a mask or put up a front. I began to feel close to God and to other people for the first time in my life. There is, perhaps, a reason that “living among God’s faithful people” is listed first in the baptismal promises: it is difficult to share in God’s word, proclaim the good news, serve others, and strive for justice if there is no foundational sense of community. I am grateful to LCM for providing me with the fellowship and solidarity that I needed to begin to live out these other promises."

Campus ministry provides an opportunity for many students to not only find a new community in Christ, but oftentimes heal from the experiences of previous communities. Simply being in relationship with people who are struggling through the same life situations as you can be immensely helpful in furthering your faith. When we live among God's faithful people, we begin to understand ourselves and our God more fully. No one understands this sentiment more than Alex Long, who spent two years as in intern for campus ministry.

"For two years I lived in a church basement.  I was the ministry intern at Jacob's Porch, the Lutheran campus ministry at Ohio State, and part of the salary included housing in the church.  I was on scene for all the joys and triumphs of being a college student, as well as all the dramas and doubts.  I was blessed to see the day by day faith lives of dozens of people I still call friends and family.  From Bible studies to random sleepovers, sermons to coffee breaks, worship services to concerts, study breaks to trumpet practice at 9 in the morning, I was there for all of it.  There was nothing more rewarding and more draining than to live among God's faithful people.  And, there was nothing that helped my faith life more than helping others' faith lives.  My faith grew more deeply and richly than it ever would have done if I hadn't been the Porch intern and resident.  Living among God's people is not only a good thing to do for a solid faith life, I believe that it is a necessary thing to do for one's self."

It is not that students are unable to find their own clubs, social engagements, and groups to be a part of in college. But how many of these clubs are truly helping students form relationship, fellowship, and faithfulness during an incredibly challenging time in their lives? Campus ministry has an opportunity to be a place of safety, questioning, and encouragement for people struggling and celebrating through this formative time. Campus ministry has the opportunity to be a beautiful place in which we live among God's faithful people now, and for years to come.

Undergrad vs Seminary

Allow me to be weird for a few minutes and post about something that has been on my mind lately. I'm not sure why, but it's there.

Ways in which undergrad did not prepare me for seminary:

We live where we study.

I have to walk about 500 steps to get to the library. It's even less to get to the building with all the classrooms in it. I cannot get away from this place. I can always find someone that is in almost all of my classes if I have a question about a project or assignment.  We are almost all fighting the exact same battles.  I'm not used to that. I have the phone number of about 75% of the people on campus.

Our professors are a part of every aspect of our life.

The following is a real conversation I had with the associate dean of our school.  She was walking her dog near the apartments (where she lives during the week) on a Wednesday.  I was walking to a friend's apartment from the dorm with a bottle of wine and wine glass in my hand.

Dr. B: Hi Sarah.
Me: Hi Dr. B
Dr. B: I hope you have that paper done for class.
Me: Um yup...
Dr. B: Enjoy your evening with your wine.

They know everything we do all the time and it's weird.  In undergrad we could separate the "professional" student from the "typical college" student because our professors weren't around to see our walk of shame or day drinking. Not so much anymore. I'm not saying this is a bad thing.  We should be the same people behind closed door as we are in the pulpit.  But let's be honest, we aren't.

Everyone knows your business.

People say that seminary is like a fish bowl.  There are lots of people looking in at your every move from every different angle. Your home church. Your field education church. The staff. People at the grocery store when you're wearing your cleric. People on Facebook. Family friends. Your parent's coworkers. Everyone all of a sudden thinks you are either A) not fit to be a pastor because of your past or B) expected to be better than everyone else at being holy or human. Or both. No one cared about how much I prayed when I was a political science undergraduate student.  They didn't ask how I was maintaining my spirituality or how I would balance my social and life when I was in my vocation.

I actually like what I'm studying.

In undergrad, you basically had to bribe me with promises of a test the next day to get me to do reading assignments or research a topic on environmental politics or political parties.  I realize now that I was probably in the wrong field because I know plenty of people in undergrad that actually love what they study. Well, that wasn't me.  Now that I'm in graduate school, people have to invite me out so I'll stop reading for my Gospels class. I have to tell myself to go to bed before 2am because I have fallen in love with a new author. Reading for class has actually made me want to read more, not less. I want to talk about theology and God and Jesus all the time. It's such a good feeling but it is also really weird and I think I'm getting boring.

Praying is a normal part of study.

We pray before all of our classes which is awesome.  Sometimes I'll walk out of my dorm room for a break and see my dormmates gathered around one another praying silently and aloud. Everything we do here is solidified and realized through prayer and communion with one another. I wasn't prepared for that. Most of my studying during undergrad involved getting as much done before my roommate and I could start drinking around 8pm.

What I'm studying has everything to do with everything.

There is nothing in my life that doesn't relate to what I am studying in seminary. I think about my friendships and my parents and my goals. Everything revolves around God. Everything we do here is about the promotion of the Kingdom. I don't even know how to separate my "real life" from my "student life" anymore. Everything is woven together because of God.