The Third Sunday of Easter, April 14, 2024
The Third Sunday of Easter, April 14, 2024
When Jesus addresses these words to his disciples, he addresses them as his sheep of the Jewish fold, particularly those of the local region. That Jesus speaks of “sheep not of this fold” portends the sending out of the apostles “to the ends of the earth” (Acts. 1:8). This is a good thing! You and I are the descendants of those “sheep not of this fold.” Jesus makes three promises concerning those “other sheep.” The first promise is that he will bring them (vs. 16). He will bring them into his growing and expanding fold. The second promise is that of hearing; they will “Listen to my voice” (vs. 16). Those other sheep, when gathered into Jesus’ fold, receive the gift of hearing… hearing their shepherd’s voice. The third promise concerns the result of this gathering and listening. It results in the union and unanimity of the flock and the shepherd (vs. 16). There will not be many flocks but one flock. Neither will there be many shepherds but one shepherd. These promises reassure you, separated by time, locale, and parentage from those first gathered sheep, that you belong to that one flock (the flock called into existence by the voice of the good shepherd) and that together with all that flock you have one shepherd, the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. You, too, are children of the promise (cf. Acts 2:39; Ro. 9:8; Gal. 4:28 among others).
Prayers from those children of the promise…
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise. Grant to me, Father, that even when my flesh proves me a sinner, my faith holds me as a child of God. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise. Give me such ears that I may hear the voice of my good shepherd so that I am established within his one flock. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise, continue me in the knowing of my good shepherd, confident that as he knows me so to0 do I know him. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise, use the voice of my good shepherd to reveal to me those sheep who are gathered with me into his one flock. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise. Grant that as the other sheep are revealed to me, that these sheep and I would come to trust one another as we have trusted our good shepherd. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise. Hold the Institute of Lutheran Theology within the one flock and beneath the one good shepherd that it, too, would listen to his voice. For Jesus’ sake. Amen
Our Father in heaven, your Son Jesus Christ has claimed us to be children of the promise. While this sinful flesh of mine still endures, grant to me the eager anticipation of my good shepherd’s return in glory when he will take me to his Father’s house where I and all the children of the promise will have the run of the household. For Jesus’ sake. Amen