Jesus’ Sheep

Just in these few verses from Matthew read as this morning’s Gospel, Jesus offers us quite a few animals to serve as our role models as we, like the disciples, are sent out into the world. Sheep, serpents, doves, sparrows. Children are often asked if they could be any animal in the world, what would it be? What would you answer? As a girl I always used to say I’d like to be an otter. None of Jesus’ suggestions have much interest for me. Sheep, serpents, doves, sparrows. Nonetheless, of course, Jesus’ words do have much to teach us.

The primary image is a powerful one. "Jesus sent out his twelve disciples, saying to them, ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves.’" Sheep into the midst of wolves.

Christianity has never been about escaping from the world. We live in a world where wolves are real, where predators threaten us on every side. Ready to kill the good within us. For the church in the days when Matthew’s Gospel was written, these predators of governors and kings were quite literally waiting to take the lives of the early Christians. Flogging and death were often the consequence of just being a Christian.

We are lucky not to live in that world. But wolves are afoot in our world, too. Threatening our lives as Christians. I am reminded of a collect we say during Lent. "Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul…" We do still live in a world where adversities threaten our bodies, and we certainly live in a world where evil thoughts assault our souls.

"I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves." I am sending you out, Jesus says. We are to go out into this world. We are to live in the world. Jesus does not offer to somehow take his disciples away from the real world or to construct some sort of protective barrier that will deflect all hurt and harm. Christianity is not about denial or avoidance or escape from the world. It is about life in the world.

I often tell parents as they are preparing to present a child for baptism that baptism is not a vaccine. Baptism does not inoculate us against the sin and danger of the world. We are using Eucharistic Prayer C right now. Not, as I’ve said before my all time favorite, but it contains some memorable phrases. For one thing, it reminds us that we do not come here on Sunday to escape the world. "Deliver us, O Lord, from the presumption of coming to this table for solace only and not for strength." We do receive comfort here, of course. But, as the Eucharistic Prayer says, we come not just for solace, but also for strength. Strength to go back out into the world where wolves lurk and circle.

Part of being a Christian is acknowledging that the world is full of wolves. And part of being a Christian is acknowledging (not denying) the seriousness of their threat. We live in a world where the predators of evil have the power to hurt our bodies and destroy our souls. Being a Christian also means acknowledging that we are vulnerable to the wolves’ threat. We do not have the power in ourselves to help ourselves. We are sheep in a world full of wolves. We are vulnerable. We are potential prey to the evil that roams in our world and hides in our hearts.

As I consider Jesus’ image of the disciples and us—sheep in the midst of wolves—I think it is also instructive to consider what he did not say. He did not say, for example, I am sending you out like wolves into the midst of sheep. Christianity is not about power, conquest. Christianity is not a tool or a weapon that makes us stronger or better than others. We are not to be the predators. Christianity does not entitle or empower us to achieve financial success, personal prestige or protection from harm. Worldly success is not a measure of faithfulness. We are the sheep, humble and vulnerable.

But I’m also aware that Jesus does not say that he is sending us out like sheep to the slaughter. At the risk of sounding a bit gruesome, we are not being sent to slaughter. Our status is not hopeless. Although we live in a world where the threats to our bodies and our souls are real, we are to live in that world. To be Christians in that world. To live as members of Jesus’ own flock.

"I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves." So much of the Christian life is captured in that image. We are to acknowledge, not deny, the threat and power of evil and sin in our lives, in our world. Yet we are sent out. We are to live in that world, not to seek escape from it. We are to be Christians among the wolves. It is Jesus who sends us. We are the people of his pasture; the sheep of his hand.

And what does it mean to be one of Jesus’ sheep in a world of wolves? How are we to survive in this dangerous world? To continue Jesus’ own mixed metaphor, part of what we are to do is to be serpents, doves, and sparrows. One writer, in considering the images of serpents and doves, describes the Christian life as one of ingenious compassion. Think about it. By most measures, snakes or serpents don’t have much going for them in the world. From the snakes’ point of view. But they survive. Whether it is wisdom, craftiness or ingenuity, they survive. Wisdom, ingenuity, creativity. God has given us these gifts, too. We are to use them for our own surviving. "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Innocent here does not mean naïve, it means innocent of offense. Do no harm. Show compassion. Caring is a remarkable shield, as well as a witness, in the face of evil. Be compassionate. Live lives of ingenious compassion.

And remember always that you are of more value than many sparrows. The sparrow is not particularly swift or noble or even beautiful. Like most of us. But, in Jesus’ words, the sparrow is valued by God. Valued by God. No matter what. Each and every one of us, every hair on our heads is known and valued by God.

Wise serpents. Compassionate doves. Cherished sparrows. We are all of these. Yet it is last Sunday’s reading that may teach us most about living as Christians in the world. Last week’s Gospel from Matthew immediately precedes the verses we heard this morning. In it the twelve disciples were named and commissioned to go out into the world bearing the Good News. The kingdom of heaven has come near, Jesus says. In fact, the disciples seem to be the actual bearers of the kingdom of heaven. The disciples carry the kingdom of heaven, the presence of Christ, the peace of God with them as they go out into the world. Remember this line: Jesus says, "As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you." The disciples are bearers of God’s own peace. As Jesus’ disciples, as sheep in Jesus’ flock, John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew the tax collector, and all the others… all of Jesus’ disciples are bearers and conveyors of God’s peace. They are sent into the world with God’s peace to sustain them and so that they may offer that peace to world in sore need. God’s peace. The peace that passes all understanding. That peace is ours. The peace of God that passes all understanding is within us. In our hearts and souls and minds. On our lips and in our hands. It is ours to offer to others. It is ours as a reservoir to draw upon when, in the face of trouble, we needs words to say. It is ours as a reservoir within when, in the face of pain, we need comfort and strength. We replenish that reservoir when we come here in worship and meet Christ in communion. The Body of Christ, the kingdom of heaven, the peace of God. These are ours as sheep in Jesus’ fold. These equip and strengthen us for life in the world. And, as Jesus’ disciples today, we are sent out to carry the peace and presence of God into the world. What a privilege and responsibility.

The peace of God that passes all understanding. Blessed by this gift of God’s own peace and presence, we need not fear as we are sent out into the world. Three times in this morning’s Gospel Jesus says, do not be afraid… do not fear. He says that phrase more than any other throughout the Gospels. Not even death, much less a few wolves, can quench God’s peace within us. The kingdom of heaven has come near. It is within us. In baptism, we are sealed and marked as Christ’s own forever. Forever. We carry the kingdom and the peace and promise of God with us wherever we go.

If I had the choice, I still don’t think being a sheep would be my first choice. But there is nothing better than being a sheep in Jesus’ flock.

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