Roadside assistance

You've seen it a thousand times on the telly:  some celebrity (whether long standing or instant) is walking along with her posse (large or small) and a gaggle of media types with microphones, cameras and questions. How do you feel?  What do you have to say?

So watching Jesus walking along a road with his posse of disciples and a gaggle of hangers on, questions being parried about with at least a few intended to catch Jesus in some kind of embarrassing slip.......isn't so hard to picture.

This time it is a man born blind.  He is the one who was just minding his own business when suddenly he becomes a media darling and the flash point for everyone's 'uninvited' opinion.  Here's the question of the day  "Whose fault is it that this man was born blind?"  Never does it say that Jesus rolled his eyes, but that kind of response wouldn't surprise me.

Instead, Jesus heals him - an occasion for rejoicing if ever there is one since (as the writer of John points out repeatedly in this episode from John 9) 'never in the history of the whole world has anyone healed someone who was born blind'.  Instead it becomes an occasion for casting blame, arguing theology, rejecting the power of the healing in the first place and ends up throwing this newly healed man out of the synagogue!

....which leads us to the Good Shepherd.  All of this is the prequel to that wonderful passage known as the Good Shepherd discourse......that place where Jesus paints for us a picture of his job, his role, his love, his care, his commitment.........even his sacrifice......for the sake of the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, Jesus says, and he goes on to explain that he is not there to judge the sheep or lock the gate to the sheep fold.  His calling is to seek those sheep who are lost on the side of the road and to guide them to the safety of the flock.  He teaches them the sound of his voice so they know who to follow, who will provide and protect them.  He works so that all can become one flock under one Lord.

He also gives us a template for our calling as followers of Jesus.  We too are to walk in the places of shadow and loss and speak with the voice of Jesus.  We are to bring light into the shadows, to guide those who are outcast to the safety of the flock.  It is about love and care and commitment and even, as needed, laying down one's life......so those who are lost in the shadows may now find life in the light.  We who follow the Good Shepherd are to mimic the Good Shepherd. There is work for us out there - and it won't always be easy.

We are the Divine Roadside Assistance crew, the 911 of the outcast set.  Let others sit at Starbucks and drink their latte - we are called to be the ones who mirror the glory of God for the sake of all those sheep who don't yet know the Shepherd.  It is hard, dusty work....

...which is why, occasionally, we need to rest in the green pastures and drink of the still waters.  Our souls will need to be restored.  We will need rest for the journey, nourishment for the work.  We need a rest stop so that when the time comes for us to 'walk through the valley of the shadows' we are strong, and the voice of the Good Shepherd is ringing in our ears.

One day, God's Positioning System (GPS) will tell us we 'have reached our final destination' but for now, take a little drink, have something to eat, and rest.  There are folks waiting by the side of road waiting for you to come and offer them healing.

In Christ's name.
Now and forever.
Amen