Vocation - A Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Easter April 21 2024

GOSPEL: John 10:11-18

The holy gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

In language that recalls the twenty-third psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and he is able to overcome death for them.

[Jesus said:] 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON (ELW p. 189)

The assembly is seated.

Have you noticed that, almost every day is

a “something” day?

A couple examples:

Jan 21st is National Hug Day

Aug. 26 is Dog Day

Sep. 19th is International Talk like a Pirate day.

Seems there’s a “Day” for everything.

We do this well in the church too:

and I’m not just talking Christmas and Easter,

We have a feast day for many saints:

St. Patrick, St. Nicholas, St. Stephen,

in addition to feasts like Holy Trinity and Pentecost.

Well today is something special, too.

Would you believe me if I told you that today, April 21st

is World Creativity and Innovation Day?

Well, it is!

April 21st, today, is also the feast day for Anselm,

Bishop of Canterbury,

and it is the fourth Sunday of Easter,

and Good Shepherd Sunday,

and ELCIC vocational Sunday.

So today is the day

to promote intellectual creativity and innovation,

to focus our energy and attention

on imagining Jesus as the Good Shepherd,

to continue the celebration of the resurrection

and to consider our own call to serve God

or to consider the call to public ministry.

That is a lot to accomplish,

but we’re going to do it!

We will talk sheep,

the Good Shepherd and vocation -

and perhaps we’ll even promote some

creativity and innovation as well.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

How does it feel to be compared to a sheep?

It’s not particularly uplifting.

We know sheep are dirty.

They’re not necessarily the smartest animal.

If one goes astray, others may follow.

Sheep need to be sheared to be useful,

and I wont get into sheep being used for food.

We should acknowledge that this image of

the Christian being sheep

is an image that can be used to

enforce submission to authority.

This image has been abused,

and this is a real shame.

We - humans - are like sheep,

but we are not actual sheep.

Anyone who tells you that this story

is a call to submission to authority is wrong.

That is not Jesus’ message.

The message is this:

Jesus, the Good Shepherd,

will do anything to keep the sheep safe.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd,

will die for the sheep,

only to be lifted up again.

This means that the sheep,

the church,

people,

you -  are worth dying for.

you are not just some miserable animal

who gets lost

and stinks

and needs to be sheared. 

you are not just another lamb led to the slaughter.

You are worth dying for.

And you are called for a purpose in the sheepfold.

Jesus is the one who calls sheep into the sheepfold -

there is one flock, 

one shepherd,

and God has a purpose for the sheep

that are worth saving.

This brings me to vocation.

Some mix up the words vocation and vacation,

But there is a difference between vocation and vacation:

one is an expensive endeavour

that can take you to all over the world

with stories and memories to share...

and the other is a vacation.

The word "vocation" is rooted in the Latin word, voccacio

meaning call or summons.

A vocation is a calling: to serve God,

to an occupation or profession,

and/or an inclination to a particular activity.

There is a difference between a job and a vocation.

But it can also be fuzzy.

Farming, Janitorial work,

school teacher, office job -

sometimes even working as a pastor -

is not a vocation.

some of the work is just that - work.

Vocation is about living your faith in all you do,

You don’t need to be a pastor

to live your faith,

or to serve God.

The sheepfold is diverse,

and there is diverse work to be done in the sheepfold

various jobs - but one vocation.

As a sheep in the sheepfold -

we are called to follow Christ in all things -

in our work and in our play.

There is a famous quote from Martin Luther:

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty

not by putting little crosses on the shoes,

but by making good shoes,

because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

God is interested in something

that serves the neighbour or neighbourhood.

When we seek to join God’s work,

to love people,

to do things for the good of our neighbours,

Then we are living into our vocation,

our purpose.

Now, a word on Innovation and creativity.

We have already established

that you are not an actual sheep.

You have the gift of brains and skills and passions

for what matters to you,

for being a follower of Christ,

to belong in the sheepfold today.

Innovation and creativity

means perhaps trying new things

to live into our purpose as sheep in the fold.

But when it comes to God’s mission -

it is not always about our new ideas,

but about God’s Spirit speaking to us,

moving us in new directions.

If you believe God is calling you to try something out -

discern that Spirit -

is it pointing to Jesus?

Is it about welcoming and inviting

sheep into the sheepfold?

If so - go for it - give it a try.

It might just be God’s Spirit calling you.

But if the new thing isn’t really about Christ,

about resurrection, reconciliation, new life

about good for the neighbour,

it’s probably not God’s call.

Today is a day to encourage you

to follow God’s lead,

to use your God given gifts

to love and serve your neighbours -

and to consider those among us

who might just be a good fit to pastoral ministry.

If you think someone has those gifts - tell them!

If you think you have those gifts -

let’s talk about it!

Whether you’re a teacher, or farmer,

retired, or a shoemaker,

Parent, Grandparent, single or child -

What ever your job,

whatever your station,

whatever your business,

Remember that The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ,

is in the business of Renewing lives,

in the business of redeeming and reconciling.

The Good Shepherd brings peace and unity

where peace and unity seem impossible.

The Good Shepherd takes that which seems useless and broken -

and gives it purpose and new life.

We want our work to matter.

We want our lives to matter,

and we’d like to trust that God is at work in us.

We are the redeemed,

we are the saved,

we belong in the sheepfold.

God will work through you.

Allow me to close with a prayer

offered for us this vocational Sunday, from

“For Feeling Like your Work Matters”

– From The Lives we Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie.

Blessed are we who remember that we are not our job titles

or paychecks

or (retirement savings),

but we are being called,

whether we like it or not,

to something greater than ourselves.

God, what is your call on my life?

I am listening.

Blessed are you who wonder if you’ll ever find your vocation. 

You who desire to be part of the solution

to the world’s pain.

May God nudge you in exactly the right direction,

where your gifts meet great need.

Blessed are you if you have stepped away from a job

due to retirement

or a diagnosis

or a life change.

Life is different,

but your purpose remains.

Blessed are you when you wonder

if your calling will cost too much—

you who do the good, hard work

of serving others.

The way you pour out may often go unnoticed.

But today, may you feel fresh wind in your sails

because this is more than a job;

this is a call.

In our inbox, bless us.

In our conference calls, bless us.

When we clean and build,

punch in and punch out,

grant us meaning.

Give us people to serve,

customers to love,

good work to do.

And pour back into us more than we pour out.

After all, we’re only human.

Amen.