Today was Father's Chapel at St. Mark's. It was wonderful to have so many fathers and special friends join us. The children really love having guests come with them to chapel and we hope you know that you are welcome to worship with us every week. In my box was a well-worn, stuffed lamb. It is very soft, plays music, and was a gift to Sarah Frances that lived in her crib until she outgrew it and now moves from place to place in her room.
The Bible is filled with images of shepherds, mentioning shepherds and/or sheep over 200 times. Abel was a shepherd, David watched his father's sheep, and shepherds were the first to visit Jesus at his birth. Tending sheep was difficult and sometimes dangerous work. The good shepherd often lived with his sheep, leading them to pasture and water, protecting them from wild animals, and guarding them at night whether they were out in the open or in a sheepfold. The good shepherd might even carry weak lambs in his arms. The good shepherd knew each one of his sheep, making sure none were ever lost, and those sheep responded to the sound of his voice.
When we teach our children about Christ, we often break stories and lessons down into their most basic components, to make them easy for them to comprehend. In this case Jesus did the heavy lifting for us. Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd, one who lays down his life for his sheep, and the story and images of the good shepherd are beautiful ones that even a child can understand. (John 10:11-16) I often tell the children about the good shepherd and the love He has for them. Today I added to this image of the good shepherd that of the good father. The good father loves, and cares and protects his child in the same way the good shepherd does for his sheep. We speak of God the Father, and for our children that image often brings with it all the love and care their own father provides for them. To be a good father is an incredible accomplishment, and we should applaud it more often.
And now, an extra thought that was not given to those in chapel. In the last conversation Jesus had with Peter, he asked him to "Feed my sheep". (John 21:15-17) Whose sheep are you feeding this week?
The Bible is filled with images of shepherds, mentioning shepherds and/or sheep over 200 times. Abel was a shepherd, David watched his father's sheep, and shepherds were the first to visit Jesus at his birth. Tending sheep was difficult and sometimes dangerous work. The good shepherd often lived with his sheep, leading them to pasture and water, protecting them from wild animals, and guarding them at night whether they were out in the open or in a sheepfold. The good shepherd might even carry weak lambs in his arms. The good shepherd knew each one of his sheep, making sure none were ever lost, and those sheep responded to the sound of his voice.
When we teach our children about Christ, we often break stories and lessons down into their most basic components, to make them easy for them to comprehend. In this case Jesus did the heavy lifting for us. Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd, one who lays down his life for his sheep, and the story and images of the good shepherd are beautiful ones that even a child can understand. (John 10:11-16) I often tell the children about the good shepherd and the love He has for them. Today I added to this image of the good shepherd that of the good father. The good father loves, and cares and protects his child in the same way the good shepherd does for his sheep. We speak of God the Father, and for our children that image often brings with it all the love and care their own father provides for them. To be a good father is an incredible accomplishment, and we should applaud it more often.
And now, an extra thought that was not given to those in chapel. In the last conversation Jesus had with Peter, he asked him to "Feed my sheep". (John 21:15-17) Whose sheep are you feeding this week?
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