THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I am willing to bet that most of us know Psalm 23 by heart. We are not talking about one or two verses here. This is a whole chapter from the Bible that most of us know! This is one chapter that gave courage to so many when they were afraid. This is one chapter so many people held onto when they crossed over to the life beyond. Shepherd works as a metaphor for God in the psalm. The good shepherd will never abandon the sheep. The sheep will never, ever, be alone.

In Sunday's gospel lection, people gather around Jesus and ask, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." These people expected a male leader who will lead them to victory. These people expected a strongman who will destroy the Romans and restore the former glory of the monarchy. These people expected a leader who will make sure that the people who put him in power are rewarded handsomely.

Jesus responds by talking about sheep and shepherds. Sheep do know the voice of their shepherd. Sheep do follow their shepherd in and out of the sheepfold. Sheep do run away from those whose voice they do not know. Shepherd works as a metaphor for Jesus in Sunday's lection. The good shepherd wil never abandon the sheep. The sheep will never, ever, be alone.

Our country does not need a messiah nor a strongman. We need a shepherd.

Lest we forget, then and now, women make up more than half of the world's shepherds. Let's stop imagining that the good shepherd in the Bible has to be male. Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Zipporah and her sisters were shepherds. The shepherds who visited Jesus when he was born were probably all women. Most importantly, many faith communities celebrate Mary--the mother of the Lamb of God--as a shepherd!

Friends, the good shepherd is a woman.

On May 9, let's elect a shepherd!