Misericordias Domini

Misericordias Domini – April 14, 2024

Psalm 33; Ezekiel 34:11-16; 1 Peter 2:21b-25

St. John 10:7-18

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is not an accident that so many of our fathers in the Old Testament were shepherds. Abel, Jacob, David, and Amos are just a few who shared this profession. Especially with the life of David, the image of the shepherd is also associated with kings. The primary job of the shepherd is to guide, provide for, and protect his sheep. A king’s duty is the same—to guide, provide for, and protect his people. God has thus established Himself as the Shepherd of His people as He has promised to guide, provide for, and protect them.

A shepherd guides his flock from the front, that is, he walks in front and the flock follows behind. He sets the example of where to walk, where it is safe to graze, and where to lie down for the evening. Our Lord, Jesus Christ does the same for you. He was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites out of Egypt. He was with David when he went before the army of Israel and slew the giant, Goliath. He walked perfectly in the Law of the Lord to fulfill the Law on your behalf but also that you would see what it is to live according to the Word of God.

More directly, Christ has sent His Holy Spirit upon you that you would not be alone. If left alone, you would not follow Christ, your Shepherd. You couldn’t. It is the Holy Spirit that carries your limping body and aching soul along the way that you might look to Christ and be guided upon the narrow path of salvation.

And of course, Christ has given you His Word to guide you. “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word guides you in how to live and behave but it also guides you to your final destination. His Word even tells you that this narrow path of salvation will be full of danger and suffering. Christ has called all who would follow Him to take up the cross. Such suffering in this life is not aimless. It is for the strengthening of your soul and in fact, plays it’s own role in conforming you to your Lord. Such suffering is small compared to the suffering of our Lord, but it serves to gather you into the image of Christ.

How then, does the Good Shepherd provide for you? “He daily and richly provides you will all you need for this body and life.” All material things that you need to survive are provided by the hand of God. If for even one moment, God stopped providing for the world, it would cease to exist. Out of His divine, Fatherly, “Shepherdly” goodness, He provides for the needs of every living thing.

The Good Shepherd is even more abundant in His blessings than this. He provides not only for your material needs but also for your spiritual needs. Chiefly, He provides you with His Word. He has communicated to you through the hands of His prophets and Apostles so that you might hear the voice of your Shepherd and know Him.

He also combines this Word with physical elements in the Sacraments. Because He knows how easy it is for you to doubt His Word, Christ has bound His Word to water, bread, and wine so that you can feel, taste, and touch the promises He has given you. He provides for you in thought, word, deed, and sensory perception.

He provides for you the voice of an undershepherd, a pastor, who speaks to you the words of absolution. These words of forgiveness are just as true and certain as if God Himself spoke them from heaven. This is a gift to you directly from God.

He provides the Church, the gathering of the saints to hear God’s Word and receive His gifts. He provides brothers and sisters in Christ that, yes, are able to provide you with temporal blessings, but far more importantly are able to uplift your soul in the worship of the Triune God; are able to support your voice even as Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses; are able to orient your mind and body toward the things of God when you would rather turn away toward the passing things of this world.

How then does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protect His flock? He protects you chiefly from sin, death, and the devil. He does this by dying and rising again. This is what makes Him the great, noble, beautiful Shepherd. He lays down His life of His own accord and takes it up again. No man took the life of Jesus. Jesus laid it down for you. By doing this, He destroyed the Goliath of death. He snatched you, His sheep, from the very mouth of hell and placed you in the sheepfold of His heavenly kingdom.

He continues to protect His flock using the very same things He has provided for the flock. What are you to do when you are assaulted by temptation, sin, or demons? Use the Word of God. Recite the Creed. Call your pastor. Pray the Psalms. Jesus continues to work through means, and these are sure and certain weapons against the agents of Satan. That which He provides He also uses to protect you.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.