EASTER VI
May 9, 2021
“The Holiness of the Hard and Dirty”
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
If someone asked you to name your favorite Psalm, or the one you felt you knew best, would you have a ready answer? For many of us, Psalm 23 is one of the first that comes to mind. Any time we read or hear it, this beautiful poem of trust in God’s never-ending love and care brings us comfort, consolation, and reassurance.
The church in which I grew up had beautiful stained glass windows, and the three arched windows behind the altar featured a large center panel of Jesus carrying a lamb in his arms. As a youngster, looking around at the beauty of that little church, I just knew that Jesus had rescued that lamb from a dangerous situation. The image of being safe in the arms of Jesus continues to be with me to this day..
Most of us don’t know much about sheep and shepherds, but we do know that the work was hard, dirty, and often thankless. Shepherds were rough and rugged men who spent a great deal of their time caring for their sheep, herding them from pasture to pasture, while fending off thieves and predators. When the heavenly choir announced the birth of the Messiah, they appeared to“shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8) The least prestigious members of the community were the first to hear the most glorious news.
In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus told his disciples, “I am the good shepherd.” “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Using this familiar image, our Lord identified with the humblest of people, and a hard, dirty job is made a holy calling through these words. If we reflect on what Jesus was called upon to do during his ministry, we realize that it, too, was a hard, dirty job. People demanded so much of him, crying out, “Heal me, heal my loved one, I’m hungry, I’m poor, I’m frightened, I’m worried, I don’t know where to turn.” And every day he healed, fed, comforted, loved, reassured, and taught those around him of God’s endless love and forgiveness. These lessons of love and compassion have called generation after generation to do the hard and dirty jobs, reflecting the love and service of our Lord.
Grateful to be part of the flock,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers