You may have heard that the solar panels are not the only things shifted this week. Yes, the Benedictines have elected a new prioress, and we are so grateful for sisters Mary David and Lynn in their graceful transition. But wait, there’s more!
Today’s readingsshift us! From our basking in the joy and glory of Jesus’ resurrection, they tilt us forward; renewing our energy, and powering our mission. We are once again turned to face God’s people, in whatever situation we find them, and to recognize them as belonging to Jesus’ fold, and as kin to us.
The descriptor “Good’ in Jesus’ self-identification as shepherd, carries weight. It’s not the polite “good” as for a job adequately done. In John’s Gospel, ‘Good’ is better understood as Ideal, scholars also land on True, the Model; this ‘Good’ carries strength and power. Not for dominance, but for mercy.
John takes care to emphasize In this gospel that Jesus “lay down his life for the sheep”, he surrendered his life for us. Not as a victim; he was not killed by “the Jews”. In the end, he offered his testimony and his life, proving that not even the might of the occupying Roman forces could suppress his mission. And in rising, Christ indeed broke the chains of the darkness.
Risen, he continues to shepherd each of us. Jesus’ role as the Good Shepherd is not one we can take on ourselves, no one can. Remember that John, the beloved disciple and writer, is clear that there are no “next gen” believers; each of us encounters Jesus directly. 1 John’s early community required 2 things of its members: belief in Jesus, and Love for one another.
In this 10th chapter of John, Jesus claims the mantle of the Good Shepherd and says, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd”(vs.16).
I have a story with sheep, if I may:
In 1993 I went to Guatemala to find someone to recreate a baptismal certificate. Immokalee FL had its first Guatemalan high school graduate, in that farming community where a few thousand survivors of a massacre there had landed. They were all stateless people, once the church that held their only proof of identity was torched. Now they had a grad, who spoke 2 indigenous languages, Spanish and English.
I traveled by bus and foot between a number of rural communities, a priest or nun in each, sending me to another until I succeeded, after a few weeks.
The land I saw was quilted with small colorful family gardens : each with a little corn, some potatoes and such, and a little corner of gladiolus grown for the cemetery or church. All So Far from where anyone lived! Far, too the pastures, for those who had sheep.
One afternoon I followed a washout up a rather steep route, stepping aside to let a small herd of rangy, muddy sheep trot up. Of course I watched them. A man with a young boy, bent with the weight of a sling of firewood on his back, trudging behind. They all looked exhausted- even the sheep- and the man warily lifted his machete my way, like, don’t even look. I was a stranger, and seen as a threat.
That washout, making their days yet more difficult, was likely one more reminder of the war that had been disrupting their community for decades; Of the deforestation and desecration by the military. Of the crops lost to torching, and whole communities to massacres. Those sheep were of great value.
I know a number of you’ve had similar travels in El Salvador, and other besieged places. Writ large, the challenge of millions of traumatized humans is unimaginable. How can they heal?
It was a joy for me last month to return to Immokalee and to walk the Via Crucis of Lent with Candelaria and her daughter. Carmen continues to support families of her exilic Kanjobal community, ever since I was able to hire her 30 years ago, With her new ID.She’s also a catechist, and with her mom and brother still farms and sells produce in the market. Some people do heal, and fold others in to heal as well. There are countless stories our country needs to hear, politically, and also scripturally.
Jesus the good shepherd cares for his flock, and diligently searches for all those who are at risk, lost, separated from the herd. We are to emulate his care, to be wary of all that would harm the vulnerable, to give them safe refuge from harm. We heard in the first letter from John,”How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?” and “We love in Truth and Action”.
We don’t know who Jesuswas thinking of when he referenced “the other sheep outside this fold” but the Gospels are alive, to be read in, and for, our day
And on this day, we hold a lot of privilege, which makes us accountable to those who have none. It matters that we contribute to the feeding and support for those in great need across the world.
One of our great privileges is the freedom to organize, to vote, and to engage with our elected officials where we live. I am humbled and challenged by the persistence of many members of this body in that respect – members past and dearly missed, and those present.
God’s love is abundant and expansive. We are called to keep expanding our own, as we find our connection to others.
As Wisconsin residents, we have the opportunity to make impactful changes for people very often outside the bounds of mercy.
Our rates of incarceration and use of solitary confinement are high! The stress of isolation often exacerbates or induces harm to peoples’ mental health. For a few years now those in our prisons have been denied fresh air, family visits, and other humanizing privileges.
An invitation to join a WISDOM/ MOSES action this week is in the current Weekly Wisdom. Scroll down for details on this Tuesday afternoon’s advocacy to end the use of solitary confinement in our prisons
It would be great to have a robust presence at this event; so please consider joining in this call for Mercy, on behalf of those rendered invisible and powerless.
Last Wednesday, many of us enjoyed our first experience of working in concert to crank the solar panels, so they would fully face the sun, and transform even more rays into accessible electricity. Doing so lightens our impact on this earth, and encourages others. I doubt I’m the only one who found that synchronized, communal exercise to have a ritual dimension. We had all shared a meal, a song, and heard a story. We processed outside to the site and task: 3 people @ each of 30 panels, cranking as one, all doing that One Thing, activating our great desire to care for this earth, and for the next generations around the globe. It was lovely, and fun!
I wonder, what might we come together to do next ?
Let us pray,
For the Benedictine Sisters of Madison, this Sunday Assembly, the Oblates, and all who have a home at Holy Wisdom, that together they and we continue to grow in love, in witness, and God willing in strength, let us pray….
For all who dedicate their resources and lives to the care and protection of Creation, and to sharing their knowledge and passion for our amazing world with the rising generations, let us pray
In gratitude for the fidelity of those in this circle and beyond who’ve supported the re entry of persons leaving prison, and for all those they’ve supported, let us pray
For Cassandra Dixon and all the Peacekeepers and Aid workers of the world, that they be kept safe as they reach out to those in Palestine, Ukraine, Somalia and all who are in dire need; and for all who face famine in today’s world, let us pray…
Please take a moment to lift up the names of those for whom you pray, quietly or in your heart,,,,,,,,,,,,,,for all of these persons, all who are ill or dying, and all listed in our book of intentions, let us pray………
O Holy One, we ask you to hear the prayers we offer today, and trust that you accompany us through difficult times, and as we celebrate our joys. We ask this in the name of our Creator, Jesus our Good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Please offer one another now a Sign of Christ’s peace!