April 21, 2024: Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! Amen. It is Good Shepherd Sunday, which always is the fourth Sunday of Easter. Of course, the obvious clues to this are Psalm 23 and the passage from the Gospel of John. Many, even those who have never been to church, know the words of the Psalm – we say it at services, especially funerals, at hospital bedsides, and for many, it is a personal mantra. The gospel is less familiar outside of the church, but still an image many grew up with for Jesus. In the fourth gospel, the authors include seven “I Am” statements one of which we heard today, where Jesus says “I am the good shepherd…” He also uses other ones – like door or gate, vine and bread – but we don’t do a Door Sunday. I guess it isn’t as catchy, and…
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