Of Gates, Shepherds, and Sheep in the Threshold Moments of Life

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” — from John 10:1-10

What a joyful Sunday we had with our Bishop visiting, sixteen confirmations, and two baptisms! Easter abundance was all around us. Our Easter season continues this Sunday with what is usually called "Good Shepherd Sunday." But the image of Jesus with a soft fluffy lamb draped over his shoulders doesn't fully imagine the symbolism we have in this week's gospel. Instead, John's gospel seems to be calling our attention to the many threshold moments we all experience. We go into new seasons of life over and over again. And yet, we sometimes neglect to honor the awkward liminal spaces that are in between times.

That is one of the real gifts of our season of Easter, as our Bishop reminded us in his sermon last week. We do not just jump into resurrected life without any transition time. Indeed, usually these times of transformation can take much longer than we might prefer. But we need to caution ourselves from moving too quickly to resolution. The discomfort of not quite knowing what is next and yet being aware that the old no longer fits is holy space. It is why our liturgical calendar asks us to hold the threshold space of Holy Saturday.

What is encouraging about the gospel lesson though is that we are not asked to deal with these threshold or gateway moments on our own. Part of what can be so disconcerting in our transitions is not necessarily trusting our own inner voices. We also might easily become distracted by outside opinions and voices that are also not necessarily leading us toward new life. The thieves and bandits, that Jesus names are literally those things and people and postures that steal new life from us. Far better for us to tolerate the ambiguity of what is next and trust that the only voice we need to hear is that of the Good Shepherd.

So how do we know what the voice of the shepherd is calling us to do and be?

Well, one step is to look for the gatekeeper. Who are the trusted people and communities in your life that already know your name and want what is best for you without a preconceived agenda or outcome in mind. They are likely the people who listen with real attention and approach the unknown with compassion and care for you as a whole person. Those gatekeepers are bearing the knowledge of the Shepherd deep within their hearts and can help you hear your name anew.

The other clear help we are being offered is to know we are part of a flock. Communities are rich with resources of people who have walked before us and likely know how to bear the anxiety of new seasons of life. When we know ourselves to be deeply embedded in community, we realize that our sense of isolation is born from fear and shame. To claim ourselves as followers of the Good Shepherd leads us into the gift of new life, so that we too can be at the gate when someone else approaches the threshold.

Peace, Beth +