The Mission of Jesus

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 -- Week of 3 Lent

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 956)
Psalms 119:145-176 (morning) 128, 129, 130 (evening)
Jeremiah 25:30-38
Romans 10:14-21
John 10:1-18

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd."

Several years ago our Vestry went on a weekend working-retreat. Our intention was to write a Mission Statement for St. Paul's. Here's what we came up with: The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. I like that statement. We tried to make sure that everything we do at St. Paul's is consistent with and contributes to our mission.

Some people have said that John 10:10b is Jesus' Mission Statement: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Everything that Jesus does is consistent with and contributes to that mission. The image of the good shepherd puts a picture with that mission.

The focus of Jesus' mission is abundant life for all people here and now. The voice of the shepherd is a voice of encouragement, a voice of grace, acceptance, and love. The spirit of the shepherd is a spirit of compassion. The work of the shepherd is the work of healing and reconciliation. This is the Good News of abundant life for all people here and now.

In today's reading, Paul quotes the prophet Nahum, announcing "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" It is a beautiful calling to bring the good news of abundant life -- Jesus' invitation to celebrate and explore God's infinite grace, acceptance and love.

I often hear from people who have not experienced the message of Jesus as good news. They come from places of fear and judgment, where life has been more suspect than abundant. Any abundant life for them was to be deferred until a later time, after death -- a heavenly reward for living a circumscribed, restricted life. Instead of reconciliation, they experienced separation.

The flock that Jesus' leads is a joyful flock that is led to abundant pastures and deep waters. It is an unbounded flock, for Jesus reminds us that he has "other sheep that do not belong to this fold." Anyone who hears and responds to this voice of compassionate love, in any language or tradition, is a sheep of Jesus' flock from another fold.

Seize the abundant life that is your heritage. Seize it today. Right now. That is the invitation of the Good Shepherd. That is the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.