The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The Reverend Shearon Sykes Williams, Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd Sunday, May 11th
This past Thursday, the world watched expectantly as white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. A new pope was announced and there was great excitement all around, from Roman Catholics, from other Christians, from people of various faith traditions, as well as people with no religious affiliation. And this fairly universal exaltation had a lot to do with the context we are living in. With the rise of authoritarian, nationalistic leaders across the world, it was so wonderful to see a significant world leader who embodies another way. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo 14th, is widely heralded as a humble, intelligent, deeply faithful man, who brings a global perspective and is profoundly devoted to the needs of the poor, the displaced and the marginalized. He is an American, who also chose to become a citizen of Peru, demonstrating his solidarity with the people he ministered to for two decades. He sees that we are all one human family and that everybody matters. He is a good shepherd. He is also a symbol of hope, peace, mercy and compassion. And the world needs these things, hungers and thirsts for them, especially right now. The pope brings tremendous moral authority to the world affairs, an authority that is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has implications for all people.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, which always falls on the Fourth Sunday of the Easter season, the season when we reflect on Jesus’ resurrection in various ways, a tradition we share with our Roman Catholic siblings and many other Protestants. And it is always good to celebrate what we have in common with other Christians, while also acknowledging our differences. We can all gather around this ancient image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd, an enduring metaphor for God that is rooted in our Jewish heritage, and that is cause for rejoicing.
Our hymnody and readings today coalesce around the Good Shepherd, in anticipation of that last day that the Revelation to John describes, when “a great multitude, from every nation, tribe, people and language” will be gathered around the holy one who “guides them to springs of the water of life and will wipe away every tear from our eyes.” So we live this life rejoicing that one day we will be with God in fullness and that all people will finally be united in all of their diversity in a God who is pure love.
Our processional hymn today was “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”. It is a hymn that is such a wonderful part of our Anglican tradition. I often tell Ben that I want it sung at my funeral, that and about 12 other hymns. He’s probably tired of hearing me say it, but it really is one of the best of the best of Christian hymnody. It was written by Father Henry Williams Baker, a priest in the Church of England in the early 1800s, who was the Editor in Chief of “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” which is the most popular hymnal ever complied. A lot of our hymnody comes from it. When I was researching the background of the hymn, I discovered that In addition to his hymn-writing, Father Baker also wrote a collection of prayers called “Daily Prayers for the Use of those who have to work hard”. I found that title pretty funny, but when you think about it, it all goes together, themes of life being hard and our need for a Good Shepherd to lead us through. The last thing that Father Baker said before he died, according to his best friend, were the words from the third verse of “The King of Love my Shepherd is.”
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
That really tells us all we need to know about the Good Shepherd. He loves us no matter how often we wander off looking for greener pastures or an easier life, he brings us back home and claims us as his own, overjoyed that he has found us. That is how God sees us and how God sees everyone. Imagine my friends, what a world it would be, if we could understand how much God loves us and loves every person on this good earth that God created.
In the Episcopal Church, our understanding is that that truly does mean everyone., without exception. That all of us are equally in need of forgiveness. That we all reflect God’s goodness and love, in varied ways. Diversity is woven into the very fabric of creation. We are created in love FOR love, we are created to love God and to love those whom God loves, the human family. That is the journey that Jesus shepherds us through in this life and brings to fulfillment in the next. Deepening our love for him, deepening our love for others who look and think like us and those who do not, and taking a posture of humility on the journey, recognizing that there is so much we still have to learn about how to love. We learn to love by emulating the one who leads us to green pastures and comes looking for us when we are lost. Jesus.
So this week, as we face our various trials, we can also rejoice that we are not alone as we face them. I pray that you will have a song on your lips as you do.
The King of Love my shepherd is.
His mercy faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his.
And he is mine forever.
