2nd Sunday after Easter
Misericordia Sonntag (Domini) or Shepherd (Good Shepherd) Sunday
“I am the good shepherd….My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life.” John 10:11, 27-28
Theme/ Focus of the week: “The Good Shepherd”
Psalms for the week: 23 and 33
Sunday Lessons:
O.T. Lesson: Ezek. 34:1-16 or Jer. 23:1-8
Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 2:21b - 25
Gospel Lesson: John 10: 11-16
M. Eph. 2:4-10 John 10:1-11
T. Matt. 26:31-35 Matt. 14:23-33
W. John 21: 15 -19 Matt. 18:10-14
T. 1 Peter 5:1 - 4 Ezek. 34:23 - 31
F. John 18:1 - 9 Heb. 13: 12 - 21
S. Acts 20: 28 -32 John 10: 27 - 30
Prayer for the Week
“O Savior Christ, who dost lead to immortal blessedness those who commit themselves to thee: Grant that we, being weak, presume not to trust in ourselves but may always have thee before our eyes, to follow thee, our guide; that thou who only knows the way, mayest lead us to our heavenly desires, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory for ever. Amen.
Saturday of Misericordia Sonntag/ Goodness of the Lord Shepherd Week May 2, 2020
Texts for the day: Acts 20:28-32 and John 10:27-30
In Acts the Overseers have been made such by the Holy Spirit. And this office of “Overseer” is for the purpose of caring for the church of God.
An overseer is to pay careful attention to self and to the whole flock.
“The church of God has been obtained with his own blood. “
Paul is speaking here to the Ephesian Elders (Presbyters, Pastors) And he reminds them that it is Jesus who purchased the flock of God with his own blood. The Overseers didn’t purchase the Flock (the church of God). They are therefore under-shepherds of the “One and Only Good Shepherd”
Paul declares that he knows that after his departure from Ephesus “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them……therefore be alert”
Indeed this has often happened down through the years and in our present day it has clearly been happening. - the Hirelings and the Wolves are numerous.
But those doing the Work of Overseer as an Under-shepherd of the One Shepherd of the Flock strive to lift up Only the Word of God.
They do so knowing the Word of Jesus in Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel. Verse 27 is powerful “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father. who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
That focus in the Word of Jesus should make every overseer (Elder, Presbyter) know that not only the Flock (the sheep) but also each of them have the assurance of eternal life and of never perishing Only Because of Jesus the Good Shepherd of the Sheep.
Even a Paul who as Saul persecuted believers and even a Peter who denied that He knew Jesus are included in those given to The Good Shepherd by the Father and thus have the Assurance of Eternal Life and that he will never perish are included in these words of Jesus. And so if the Holy Spirit of God has enabled you to believe in “Only Jesus” as your Good Shepherd then you too - under-shepherd or ordinary Sheep are given this wonderful assurance by the Word of God. That Word results in Jubilation (Making a Joyful Noise unto the Lord) as the Easter celebration continues.