May 8, 2022

Today has traditionally been called either Good Shepherd Sunday or Vocations Sunday, and of course on our secular calendar it’s Mother’s Day. As to Mother’s Day, a cartoon I saw recently showed two little kids looking at a grey-haired woman who might be their grandma, and she’s happily reading an Encyclopedia Britannica. Remember encyclopedias? Perhaps you still have a set because none of the used book charities will accept them, right? So, in the cartoon, when the two wide-eyed kids see this, one says to the other: “It’s prehistoric Googling.” I think the term ‘prehistoric’ is being bandied about all too loosely these days, don’t you? Most of us here are Elders, not “prehistoric” relics! I used to wish I could have my grandchildren over for sleepovers and such … imagining them sitting on my lap while I reread beloved Dr Seuss classics. But now that they’re 6 and 8 they’re already way too technologically advanced in all I see them doing at home on computers and tablets etc. So, I’m pretty sure they’d be bored silly if they spent a night at “prehistoric” Grandma’s house.

Both the gospel today and the epistle from Revelation speak of sheep or lambs. I used to think that this Good Shepherd theme was fairly bland and innocent, and so was surprised to see the Barclay Study Bible point out that in these verses, the writer of John’s gospel shows us a belief in predestination. John has Jesus saying that: “you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” (v 26-7). We hear similar things in other parts of John’s gospel where Jesus speaks to God about not having lost any of those to whom God sent him. Predestination is the idea that God predestines some people to salvation. So, if God picks and chooses which babies and people will end up in heaven -- what about the others? Does God predestine them to damnation, hell, etc.? That’s the implication. Predestination can sound innocent enough – a sweet idea that God has chosen us from the beginning, and nothing we can do will break that bond. But you cannot have a group of ‘chosen people’ without implying that others are not chosen. Predestination is a bad idea that contributes to the ‘us vs them’ approach which causes much division.

Therefore, I was delighted to find a commentary on our Revelations passage that portrays the opposite – showing us a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands” (v 9). This Working Preacher commentary https://www.workingpreacher.org/.../commentary-on... was written by a Quaker Bible scholar named C. Wess Daniels, who points that “Revelation is a letter to seven churches made up of poor and marginalized folks trying to survive, resist, and refuse assimilation into the Roman empire” and today’s reading presents an alternative and much more inclusive vision of community:

“The multitude is countless and made up of “every nation, all tribes, all people, all languages.” This tells us that the vision is that the community formed around the lamb is not formed by borders, nation-states, militaries, ethnicities, or any other human category or distinction we put on others. The binding feature of this new community is that the people stand before the lamb, robed in white, holding palm branches.”

Daniels also points out the ongoing relevance of this passage for our times in which there are increasing divisions as we see on social media and in real life in Ukraine and other places. There are shocking and depressing levels of selfishness, greed, cruelty, lies and terrible violence in our world. It feels like a return to a more tribal mentality that protects our group or clan; and sees others mainly as threats.

My own parents, through no fault or choice of their own, came from a tribal Italian culture which spoke a dialect of Italian that only their region could understand – part of the fierce and violent regionalism that plagued Italy for centuries. The development of the Internet was inevitable, but like every powerful tool it can be used for both good and evil. It’s a way for humans to connect and understand each other better; but can also strengthen the connections of violent, greedy and hateful people towards many nefarious goals and projects.

It’s no wonder that many of us feel so discouraged about the world, and frankly relieved that we’re older – it’s all the younger generations that I especially feel concerned about. Most of us never had to face what they are facing in terms of our damaged planet, and dangerously weaponized world, not to mention the inability to afford so much as a modest family home. We’re ALL invited to care and help and speak up for all the world’s children in these trying times. To care deeply about the future of the young ones of the world is a calling or VOCATION that we all have, especially as responsible, compassionate and privileged Canadian Christians in these times. All God’s children around the world are our children too – needing our love & care.

Like Tabitha/Dorcas in our first reading from Acts 9 today, may we be devoted to good works and acts of charity that help the most vulnerable … while using our creativity to bring praise and glory to God. Tabitha was especially helping the most vulnerable people in her society – the widows who could not inherit any of the family assets in that time and place. Helping the vulnerable can take so many creative forms. May we enjoy all that God has given us to share and celebrate, as we follow the Good Shepherd in exercising our Vocations to foster loving relations with all of God’s children around the world, Amen.