Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

8.2K

DIARY ENTRIES OF A LOST AND FOUND SHEEP 

John 10:22-30 
Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C 
Analysis by Robin Lutjohann  

22At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, 26but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  28give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30The Father and I are one.” 

“We praise you, Lord, for your voice, piercing through the clamor of hell.”

DIAGNOSIS: Lost in the Din of Nothingness and Despair

Step 1: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem) – Can’t say
Do I share my faith? Well, um… I don’t want to bother anyone. I don’t want to make it weird. The word “evangelism” gives me the creeps anyway. And didn’t St. Francis say, “Preach the gospel; use words if necessary?” I rarely find it necessary.  

Jesus says, “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice.” (vv. 25-27a) 

We confess our speechlessness, O God, and our cowardice. Have mercy and speak through us! 

Step 2: Advanced Diagnosis (Internal Problem) – Can’t hear
Does God speak to me? I’m not sure. There’s a feeling I get sometimes, a sort of intuition maybe? But I couldn’t be certain. To be honest, I don’t know what I’m supposed to be listening for, or if anyone’s speaking. 

Jesus says, “…you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice.” (v.26b-27a) 

We confess unwillingness to hear you, O God, and our unbelief. Have mercy and speak to us! 

Step 3: Final Diagnosis (Eternal Problem) – Can’t stand
Does God love me? Of course! God loves everyone, right? But, actually, I don’t feel particularly loved. And I don’t think I deserve to be loved either. If there is a God, he seems to have forgotten about me. Maybe the universe is empty after all, and I’m just shouting into the void. Hello??? Anyone out there? No? I thought so. God, I’m stupid! Talking to myself like a crazy person. 

Jesus says, “…you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” (v. 26) 

We confess our despair, O God, and our self-loathing. Have mercy and do not abandon us to the voices of condemnation! 

PROGNOSIS: Found in The Shepherd’s Voice of Hope

Step 4: Internal Prognosis (Eternal Solution) – The Voice
I didn’t hear his voice until I really needed it. Everything was drowned out by the cacophony in my head and in the world around me, and I was drowning too. Didn’t even know where my own thoughts ended and the noise began. But then I heard his voice, and it was the most beautiful sound:  

“I give eternal life, and will never perish. No one will snatch out of my hand.” (v.28), says the Crucified One, even while being shouted down himself.  

We praise you, Lord, for your voice, piercing through the clamor of hell. 

Step 5: Advanced Prognosis (Internal Solution) – His Voice
He always said, didn’t he, “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.” But I didn’t have an ear until he gave me his own. “You have given me an open ear.” (Psalm 40:6) Literally in Hebrew: “Ears you have dug for me.” I can have a pretty thick skull, Lord. I’m just glad you have a loud voice. 

“My sheep hear my voice,” says the Risen One, “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (v.27a, 28b) 

We praise you, Lord, for the work of your Spirit in us, creating the miracle of faith where there was none

Step 6: Final Prognosis (External Solution) – My Voice
“How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!” I can’t get enough of it, can’t get it out of my head. I love to hear it. I can’t shut up about it. I’m not even trying. All I do is “repeat the sounding joy.” Is this evangelism? 

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me,” says the Ascended One, omnipresent at the Father’s right hand (v.27). 

We praise you, Lord, for opening our mouths and giving us words we did not know we had.