April 26, 2015

B22: The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B (2015)

Will Willimon

The Rev. Dr. William H. Willimon, Bishop in the United Methodist Church, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School, and one of the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world says of today’s texts, Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18, “As a Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday is…not my favorite.” It sounds as if Jesus is doing all the work. He’s the Good Shepherd. What are we? Sheep? And what do sheep do? Lie in green pastures Drink from still waters? Aren’t we supposed to DO something? Aren’t we supposed to be out there bringing in God’s Kingdom? Well, maybe not, Willimon says. Or at least, not always.