Life in Abundance
In many historical Christian traditions, this fourth Sunday of Easter is called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” One of the readings for this particular Sunday is the one we just read from the Gospel of John, where Jesus says he is our shepherd, we are his flock, and we are under his care.
Today is a day of comfort, of healing, and of reassurance. Everything from the 23rd Psalm to the reading of Acts to the Gospel to the suggested hymns is to remind us that we hold a special place in God’s heart. And because we are people of God’s creation, we are loved. That is true in every single year, but it is especially true when we are hurting, mourning, and afraid.
When we look at today’s scriptures altogether, we are made keenly aware of two things. First, in our reading from Acts, we see how God creates us to care for each other. That we are to live in such a way that we support and build up each others’ faiths. That we break bread together and celebrate fellowship together. That we hold one another accountable in love. And that if any one of us should have a need, that we would sacrifice of our own goods, our own money, to meet the needs of our neighbors. It’s a radical call to love each other in a sacrificial way – the same way that God so loves us. Acts reminds us that love without sacrifice is superficial. We can see that we love each other, and even convince ourselves that we mean it, but how we act and what we do for each other matters. And that can sound like a tremendous burden… it’s a tall task to live up to. But it’s also a tremendous matter of comfort. Because we’ve seen that self-giving love over and over again, in the days of the early church in the Book of Acts, through our own little church today. The people of this church give of themselves over and over in love for each other and for the world – exactly as the scriptures predict we would. When God’s love is in our hearts, the sacrifices to ourselves seem so much smaller, and the rewards for those who benefit take on greater meaning and have an increased impact. Because, as God’s people, we are made for this very purpose – to give of ourselves for the benefit of others.
So the first thing we’re made aware of this morning is how God wants us to care for each other – in self-giving love, the same way God loves us.
The second thing we see is the way God cares for us.
We see God in the 23rd Psalm, walking with us, step by step, as we journey through the darkest shadows of our lives.
And we see God in Christ here in the Gospel of John, caring for us as a shepherd cares for his flock. That Christ is the gate and whoever comes through him will be saved – will be cared for – will be loved.
I just want to focus in on the last sentence of that passage – the second half of John 10:10.
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
We know that God loves us. We know that God cares for us, walks with us – God is our greatest comfort in life and in death and God wants life for us. But not just any sort of life. In Christ, God came that we may have life and have it abundantly.
So let’s just talk about that word “abundantly” for a moment.
When we hear that word, we might think of an abundance of wealth or an abundance of stuff – or a certain comfort level where we don’t have to worry about paying for our next meal, or making next month’s rent, because we’ve achieved a certain level of financial success.. that’s often what comes to mind when we think of abundance.
But what does it mean, instead, to think of an abundance of life?
It’s not necessarily more life, or longer life, although we might hope that to be the case. But I think Jesus is talking about better life.
“Better” meaning: life lived the way it should be lived.
A life that is filled with love is abundant.
A life that is filled with giving is abundant.
A life that is filled with faith is abundant.
A simple, honest, dignified life… a life that honors God, our neighbors, and ourselves… is an abundant life.
Jesus does not care one bit what we have in our bank accounts, what we drive, where we live, or who we know.
What he does care about is what we do with what we have, whether that’s time, energy, or treasure, to give of ourselves for the love of other people.
Our world today is under a stress test, the likes of which we’ve never seen. And we can see the cracks starting to show as our patience gets tested, people get antsy, and a lot of us are watching our 401k’s drop, or getting furlough notices and pink slips, and there’s real anxiety about what’s next and whether this is all worth it. And I get that – I really do.
The stress in our world today is unbelievably high. So it’s natural we’re going to see some hot tempers, some rash thinking, or quick fixes – which are usually not that quick and don’t fix anything.
So as we navigate the continuing stresses of our own lives, we need to stop and think – are my actions reflective of God’s glory – are they in pursuit of abundant life – life as it should be lived – or are they something else?
Food pantries all around the country are hurting – if you have extra, consider giving some. Keyport Ministerium food pantry is always collecting.
Retail workers, restaurant workers, package and mail carriers… they’re out there keeping shelves stocked, our families fed, our homes supplied, as best they can, with a buckling supply chain. And they have to deal with rude and insensitive customers while they do it. A simple “thank you,” a smile, and a few extra dollars added to the tip can go a long way in helping the people we depend on keep going.
And as always, we look out for each other. If you know someone who lives alone or is struggling during this time, we can still make phone calls, reach out to our neighbors, drop off a card or a bag of groceries if they have trouble getting to a store.
And if you are one of the ones who is struggling… whether with finances, mental health, physical health, or the newfound challenges of being locked up with your families 24 hours a day… there are choices we can make too. Not only can we show grace, but we can ask for grace as well. Let people around you know that you need help. There is no shame in needing a hand these days. Whether it’s a few extra dollars to get you through the month, or help navigating the government bureaucracy to get some relief, or whether you need to speak to a doctor to get help managing the stress and anxiety… or whether you need a prayer or someone to pray with. The world is full of love and goodness and kindness – and it really doesn’t take much to tap into the grace that God has flooded into the world. But it’s a whole lot easier when you’re not doing it alone.
We look out for each other. As God’s people – as all people of God’s creation do. Because that is how God created us. To live life in love as God loves us. God who is our shepherd, who gives of his own self to love us.
Life in abundance, which is what Jesus promises to us, is life rich in faith, grace, and love for God and each other. And this is all to God’s own glory and not our own. Amen.
Let us pray.
Holy God,
For the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, we give you our thanks and praise. You have filled the world with your love and grace, which shines through even in the darkest nights. In deepest shadows you walk with us, giving of your own self, in showing us how to live lives that honor you. We pray together that your many mercies and endless kindnesses will bring us through these days into greater times ahead. Through the name of Jesus Christ, our eternal shepherd and salvation, we pray. Amen.
In many historical Christian traditions, this fourth Sunday of Easter is called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” One of the readings for this particular Sunday is the one we just read from the Gospel of John, where Jesus says he is our shepherd, we are his flock, and we are under his care.
Today is a day of comfort, of healing, and of reassurance. Everything from the 23rd Psalm to the reading of Acts to the Gospel to the suggested hymns is to remind us that we hold a special place in God’s heart. And because we are people of God’s creation, we are loved. That is true in every single year, but it is especially true when we are hurting, mourning, and afraid.
When we look at today’s scriptures altogether, we are made keenly aware of two things. First, in our reading from Acts, we see how God creates us to care for each other. That we are to live in such a way that we support and build up each others’ faiths. That we break bread together and celebrate fellowship together. That we hold one another accountable in love. And that if any one of us should have a need, that we would sacrifice of our own goods, our own money, to meet the needs of our neighbors. It’s a radical call to love each other in a sacrificial way – the same way that God so loves us. Acts reminds us that love without sacrifice is superficial. We can see that we love each other, and even convince ourselves that we mean it, but how we act and what we do for each other matters. And that can sound like a tremendous burden… it’s a tall task to live up to. But it’s also a tremendous matter of comfort. Because we’ve seen that self-giving love over and over again, in the days of the early church in the Book of Acts, through our own little church today. The people of this church give of themselves over and over in love for each other and for the world – exactly as the scriptures predict we would. When God’s love is in our hearts, the sacrifices to ourselves seem so much smaller, and the rewards for those who benefit take on greater meaning and have an increased impact. Because, as God’s people, we are made for this very purpose – to give of ourselves for the benefit of others.
So the first thing we’re made aware of this morning is how God wants us to care for each other – in self-giving love, the same way God loves us.
The second thing we see is the way God cares for us.
We see God in the 23rd Psalm, walking with us, step by step, as we journey through the darkest shadows of our lives.
And we see God in Christ here in the Gospel of John, caring for us as a shepherd cares for his flock. That Christ is the gate and whoever comes through him will be saved – will be cared for – will be loved.
I just want to focus in on the last sentence of that passage – the second half of John 10:10.
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
We know that God loves us. We know that God cares for us, walks with us – God is our greatest comfort in life and in death and God wants life for us. But not just any sort of life. In Christ, God came that we may have life and have it abundantly.
So let’s just talk about that word “abundantly” for a moment.
When we hear that word, we might think of an abundance of wealth or an abundance of stuff – or a certain comfort level where we don’t have to worry about paying for our next meal, or making next month’s rent, because we’ve achieved a certain level of financial success.. that’s often what comes to mind when we think of abundance.
But what does it mean, instead, to think of an abundance of life?
It’s not necessarily more life, or longer life, although we might hope that to be the case. But I think Jesus is talking about better life.
“Better” meaning: life lived the way it should be lived.
A life that is filled with love is abundant.
A life that is filled with giving is abundant.
A life that is filled with faith is abundant.
A simple, honest, dignified life… a life that honors God, our neighbors, and ourselves… is an abundant life.
Jesus does not care one bit what we have in our bank accounts, what we drive, where we live, or who we know.
What he does care about is what we do with what we have, whether that’s time, energy, or treasure, to give of ourselves for the love of other people.
Our world today is under a stress test, the likes of which we’ve never seen. And we can see the cracks starting to show as our patience gets tested, people get antsy, and a lot of us are watching our 401k’s drop, or getting furlough notices and pink slips, and there’s real anxiety about what’s next and whether this is all worth it. And I get that – I really do.
The stress in our world today is unbelievably high. So it’s natural we’re going to see some hot tempers, some rash thinking, or quick fixes – which are usually not that quick and don’t fix anything.
So as we navigate the continuing stresses of our own lives, we need to stop and think – are my actions reflective of God’s glory – are they in pursuit of abundant life – life as it should be lived – or are they something else?
Food pantries all around the country are hurting – if you have extra, consider giving some. Keyport Ministerium food pantry is always collecting.
Retail workers, restaurant workers, package and mail carriers… they’re out there keeping shelves stocked, our families fed, our homes supplied, as best they can, with a buckling supply chain. And they have to deal with rude and insensitive customers while they do it. A simple “thank you,” a smile, and a few extra dollars added to the tip can go a long way in helping the people we depend on keep going.
And as always, we look out for each other. If you know someone who lives alone or is struggling during this time, we can still make phone calls, reach out to our neighbors, drop off a card or a bag of groceries if they have trouble getting to a store.
And if you are one of the ones who is struggling… whether with finances, mental health, physical health, or the newfound challenges of being locked up with your families 24 hours a day… there are choices we can make too. Not only can we show grace, but we can ask for grace as well. Let people around you know that you need help. There is no shame in needing a hand these days. Whether it’s a few extra dollars to get you through the month, or help navigating the government bureaucracy to get some relief, or whether you need to speak to a doctor to get help managing the stress and anxiety… or whether you need a prayer or someone to pray with. The world is full of love and goodness and kindness – and it really doesn’t take much to tap into the grace that God has flooded into the world. But it’s a whole lot easier when you’re not doing it alone.
We look out for each other. As God’s people – as all people of God’s creation do. Because that is how God created us. To live life in love as God loves us. God who is our shepherd, who gives of his own self to love us.
Life in abundance, which is what Jesus promises to us, is life rich in faith, grace, and love for God and each other. And this is all to God’s own glory and not our own. Amen.
Let us pray.
Holy God,
For the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, we give you our thanks and praise. You have filled the world with your love and grace, which shines through even in the darkest nights. In deepest shadows you walk with us, giving of your own self, in showing us how to live lives that honor you. We pray together that your many mercies and endless kindnesses will bring us through these days into greater times ahead. Through the name of Jesus Christ, our eternal shepherd and salvation, we pray. Amen.