As regular readers of my Rambles will know, I love it when there is livestock in the field behind the Rectory, especially when they are on the hill. I love sitting over my morning coffee and watching them as they make their way across the field, watching as they interact with each other. I am especially pleased at the moment because we have sheep, admittedly very noisy sheep, but sheep that are fascinating to watch. From happily grazing they will all, suddenly, start to head off left to Charlton, or right over to the tree line that runs up the hill. Now the latter, especially today, is probably because they are trying to get some shelter from the rain, but whatever the reason the whole flock seem to suddenly up and move as one.

Now you will probably all have heard, if not used, the saying ‘follow like sheep’. It is a disapproving, critical saying, suggesting people follow trends, follow orders, follow leaders, without thinking for themselves. It is a saying that has its roots in the Middle East, where sheep are not herded as they are in this country, from the back of the flock, but lead by the shepherd from the front. It is a saying that is also sometimes problematic for Christians, because Jesus frequently calls the people of Israel sheep – Lost sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9: 36) is just one example. It is a saying that is often also used as a criticism of Christians, suggesting that those who follow the teaching of Jesus, follow the commandments of God, do so without thinking about, reflecting on, or even understanding, what they are doing, or why they do it.

But the analogy of sheep and a shepherd, and a Good Shepherd at that, used in the Bible is not one referring to the blind following of doctrine, the simple ‘follow the leader’, that we seem to see with the sheep in the field. When Jesus refers to the people of Israel as sheep without a shepherd, he is referring to the fact that they had teachers, they had Rabbis, they had leaders, who expected the people to follow them blindly. They didn’t have compassion for them, they didn’t care about their lives, about their souls. They expected the people to do what they were told, they expected them to follow like sheep.

Jesus, however, calls himself the Good Shepherd. The shepherd who knows his sheep, his people, and his people know him. The shepherd who calls his sheep, his people, and invites them to follow him, trusting that he will bring them nourishment, will care for them, and will bring them safely to where they are going. The Good Shepherd is the one who cares about the lost sheep, who will look for them and bring them back to the flock. But unlike the shepherd who will hoist a lost sheep on his shoulders and carry it back, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, doesn’t force us back into the fold, doesn’t expect us to blindly follow him. He calls us by name and hopes, prays, we will respond, will answer him, and will return to him. He doesn’t want us to unquestioningly follow, he doesn’t want us to be like the sheep in the field, he wants us to use the God given gift of free will to choose to follow. And when we do, he will be The Good Shepherd. He will care for us, and about us. He will walk with us, gently leading us, guiding us, encouraging us, because he knows us, has called us by name, and we are his. We just have to choose whether we answer or not.

Rev Sarah

Sunday Worship

Celebrating the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Communion

10am

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Singleton

Rev Sarah Manouch
07468 854864 priestvalleyparish@gmail.com
Please note that I am part-time. My principal working days are Friday and Saturday as well as Sunday. I am not available on a Thursday