Good morning.
Today is Friday,
March 19th,
2021.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart.
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
Our scripture today is John 10,
Verses 11 through 21.
I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd would die for the sheep.
The hired hand,
Who is neither shepherd nor owner of the sheep,
Catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away,
Leaving the sheep to be scattered or snatched by the wolf.
That's because the hired hand works only for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd.
I know my sheep,
And my sheep know me.
In the same way,
Abba,
God,
Knows me and I know God.
And for these sheep I will lay down my life.
I have other sheep that don't belong to this fold.
I must leave them too.
I must lead them too.
And they will hear my voice.
And then there will be one flock,
One shepherd.
This is why Abba,
God,
Loves me.
Because I lay down my life only to take it up again.
No one takes my life from me.
I lay it down freely.
I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again.
This command I received from my father.
These words once more divided the temple authorities.
Many said he is possessed.
He's raving mad.
Why do you listen to him?
Others said these are not the words of a person possessed by a demon.
Could a demon open the eyes of a blind person?
I invite you now in your imagination to picture the good shepherd who would die for the sheep.
Perhaps you know what sheep are like.
Perhaps you don't.
So you may make an adjustment in your imagination and picture a pet or a child who knows the person who cares for him or her.
Jesus says the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd.
Imagine that for a minute.
When you hear the voice of someone you recognize,
What happens inside of you?
That deep knowing that resonates within you.
Can you hear Jesus voice?
Calling you because he loves you.
Jesus,
The shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
Please repeat these words.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we might see.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our father in heaven.
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver.
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only father but mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love.
Now and forever.
Amen.
Jesus,
You are the light of the world.
Open our eyes that we may see.
You are the good shepherd.
Lead us.
Amen.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
