Sermon from 7/2/2017
Today’s reading is likely one of your favorites from the Psalms. Psalm 23-the shepherd’s Psalm is an image as our creator God being our shepherd, caring for us, leading us and loving us. Many have the Psalm memorized. We hear it frequently at funerals-where it gives us comfort and reminds us that God cares for us although we may not always feel or be aware of that. I know I have preached on this Psalm at least twice in the past five years. The Psalm washes over us as a salve, giving us comfort and rest for our wounded and ragged selves.
Today, I want to simply tell you a sheep story. It is a real life, real sheep story and I will let you hear the Psalm on your own.
His name is Shrek! Shrek did not like to be sheared. Most sheep don’t mind being sheared. It take about ten minutes with an experienced shearer…maybe twelve. Most sheep are just chill about it, knowing it is part of being cared for. They say the lambs are frisky. Their inexperience with the process makes them more frightened but as they mature they settle into being sheared regularly.
About shearing-it’s not really that bad, or so I’ve read. Shrek was a sheep type called Merino. Their coat continues to grow. The don’t shed it off or slow down on it’s growth. Yes this can cause some problems. The fur can become matted such that the sheep may not be able to walk. Or if they fall onto their back they can’t get turned up right and may die. Shrek had not read this facts and hadn’t thought of them himself.
Shrek hated shearing and devised a plan to run off, slipping out of the pen and making a break for it…..
He was “lost” for six years. There were a series of near by caves and he roamed them without detection. Well hidden in the caves, Shreks’s fur continued to grow, grow, and grown some more. When he was found, they were not sure what he was at first. You couldn’t see his eyes. But Shrek had successfully escaped being sheared.
And sheared he was then…..on national tv. He had become a celebrity. His wool weighed in at 60 pounds—enough to make 20 men’s suits-large men. His wool was auctioned off for a children’s charity.
Shrek became a national favorite for the country of New Zealand. He was loved by his owners and given private pen, reinforced no doubt and plenty of sheep chow. Shrek passed away in 2011 at the age of 16. Sixteen is a remarkable life for a Mirano sheep.
A slightly different story than Psalm 23. I should remind us, you and myself, that we are the sheep in both stories. We are lead, we are kept safe, and sometimes we think we need to slip the pen and hid out.
In some ways I saw Shrek as a hero, hiding out and doing as he wanted. But what if he had fallen on his back. What is his fur had matted making walking impossible! I have thought about him all week. With a bit more honesty, I might say I have been thinking about me all week. Perhaps recognizing my own sheep-ness.
God does lead us, and elsewhere in the scriptures we hear about the fold to keep sheep safe and following the shepherds voice. Yet sheep are sheep and the shepherd loves the sheep but not keep them leashed or tied up.
It comes down to our freedom can allow us to be cared for and care for ourselves. As it turns out for other sheep, freedom can lead to being left alone, but with a matted not so great load of wool to tote around. How free is that?
This week-the 4th of July-we celebrate our freedom. Our freedom as a county, freedoms as individuals. I understand the holiday, I get it. But let’s remember that we are sheep, and our freedom is from God. God is our shepherd who leads us, we need to recognize God’s voice. God leads us not to be free American’s but to be the people of God, free to serve the last, the least and the lost, free to serve mercy, free to seek justice.
As we go to the table today to be served, let us go as God’s flock, giving thanks for the still waters and the green paths, knowing that surely the valleys will come, our cup will overflow and that our enemies—we will sit with them, speak with them, break bread with them. It is a promise for a sheep such as us. There is no need to hide in the caves, follow the voice and all shall be well and all shall be well.