A shepherd in Israel was devoted to his flock since his very existence depended on their survival. The sheep on the other hand depended on the care of the shepherd. This ancient bond of familiarity linking shepherd with sheep is no longer needed in our modern world.
The confidence of the Israelite in God the shepherd is expressed beautifully in Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” But if the shepherds failed in their duty there was fierce denunciation from the prophets. Listen to Ezekiel – “Woe for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves. You ought to feed your flock, yet you have fed on milk, you have dressed yourselves in wool, you have sacrificed the fattest sheep, but failed to feed the flock…for lack of a shepherd they have scattered. Well then shepherds hear the word of Yahweh…I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock.” The true shepherd, speak to his sheep and they recognise his voice and they follow him
The Pharisees were men who claim to guide others. They are jealous of Jesus who they see as questioning their authority. Jesus wants to explain to his listeners that he is the true shepherd. Not only that he says – I am the gate to the sheep fold. It is by my passing through the gate that the sheep enter, leave, and find food. Whoever enters through me will be safe.
In a single stroke he elevates the debate to a different level! We would have expected him to set himself up against the pharisees. I’m the true shepherd – they’re the false shepherds. But no, he is the gate, and he doesn’t exclude anyone from salvation. “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Roger
The gospel calls us to be people of Hope even in the darkest hour. Maybe you can find time to say an extra prayer for all those in such desperate circumstances in Australia and the rest of the world?
Our prayer for days ahead is for balance, consideration and listening
God of Comfort,
send your Spirit to encompass all those whose lives
are torn apart by violence and death in Israel and Palestine.
You are the Advocate of the oppressed
and the One whose eye is on the sparrow.
Let arms reach out in healing, rather than aggression.
Let hearts mourn rather than militarize.
God of Justice,
give strength to those whose long work for a just peace
might seem fruitless now. Strengthen their resolve.
Do not let them feel alone. Show us how to support their work
and bolster their courage. Guide religious leaders to model
unity and reconciliation across lines of division.
Guide political leaders to listen with their hearts as they seek peace and pursue it.
Help all people choose the rigorous path of just peace and disavow violence.
God of Love,
we lift up Palestine and Israel — its people, its land, its creatures.
War is a monster that consumes everything in its path.
Peace is a gift shared at meals of memory with Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
Let us burn incense, not children. Let us break bread, not bodies.
Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries.
We beg for love and compassion to prevail
on all your holy mountains.
God of Hope,
we lift up the cities of the region: Gaza City and Tel Aviv,
Ramallah and Ashkelon, Deir El Balah and Sderot,
so long divided, yet so filled with life and creativity.
Come again to breathe peace on your peoples
that all may recognize you.
God of Mercy,
even now work on the hearts of combatants
to choose life over death, reconciliation over retaliation,
restoration over destruction. Help us resist antisemitism in all its forms,
especially in our own churches. All people, Israelis and Palestinians,
deserve to live in peace and unafraid, with a right to determine
their future together.
God of the Nations,
let not one more child or elder be sacrificed on altars of political expediency.
Keep safe all people from unjust leaders who would exploit
vulnerability for their own distorted ends.
Give wise discernment to those making decisions to pursue peace.
Provide them insight into fostering well-being, freedom, and thriving for all.
Teach all of us to resolve injustices with righteousness, not rockets.
Guard our hearts against retaliation, and give us hearts for love alone.
Strengthen our faith in you, O God of All Flesh,
even when we don’t have clear answers,
so that we may still offer ourselves non-violently
for the cause of peace.
Amen.
© Rose Marie Berger Sojourners October 9, 2023
Maybe he can’t stand on his feet anymore and suffering has shaped his character but this speech by Pope Francis from a few days ago is simply AMAZING!
“You can have flaws, be anxious and even be angry, but don’t forget that your life is the greatest business in the world. Only you can stop it from failure. You are appreciated, admired and loved by many. Remember that being happy is not having a sky without storms, a road without accidents, a job without effort, relationships without disappointments.
“Being happy is to stop feeling a victim and become the author of your own destiny. It’s going through deserts, but being able to find an oasis deep in your soul. It’s to thank God every morning for the miracle of life. It’s kissing your children, cuddling your parents, having poetic moments with your friends, even when they hurt us.
“To be happy is to let live the creature that lives in each of us, free, joyful and simple. It’s having maturity to be able to say: “I made mistakes”. Having the courage to say “I’m sorry”. It’s having a sensitivity to say “I need you”. Is having the ability to say “I love you”. May your life become a garden of opportunities for happiness… that in spring I can be a lover of joy and in winter a lover of wisdom.
“And when you make a mistake, start over. Because only then will you fall in love with life. You will find that being happy doesn’t mean having a perfect life. But she uses tears to irrigate tolerance. Use your defeats to train your patience.
“Use your mistakes with the serenity of the sculptor. Use pain to tune into pleasure. Use obstacles to open the windows of intelligence. Never give up … Above all, never give up on the people that love you. Never give up on happiness, because life is an amazing show. “.
POPE FRANCIS
A PRAYER FOR GROWTH
God of mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship,
And power to our witness.
Help our parish of Holy Trinity to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to this city and community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
UPCOMING CONCERTS -
TRIO ANIMA MUNDI – Sunday 19th May 2.30pm
Kenji Fujimura – Piano, Rochelle Ughetti – Violin, Noella Yan – Cello
FRENCH MALANGE
Sonata for violin and cello - Maurice Ravel
Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor - Theodore Dubois
Tickets: Adults $45, Concession $35*, Student $15
*Concession excludes Seniors or Health Care holders.
3-concert subscription: Adult $120, Concession $90, Student $30
Further information: www.trioanimamundi.com\
ROGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN – Sunday 26th May 2pm
- from the pens of the world’s greatest musical theatre writers
CAROUSEL – OKLAHOMA – SOUTH PACIFIC – THE KING AND I – THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Alexandra Lidgerwood (soprano) - Michael Lampard (baritone) - John Lidgerwood (baritone) - Sue Goessling (piano)
Tickets: $20 (exact money please)
Bookings essential:0428 284 6766, 0417 541 138 or Trybooking
Worship at Holy Trinity each week
Sunday: 8am Eucharist; 10am Sung Eucharist and Morning Tea
Wednesdays at 10am Eucharist followed by Morning Tea
Thursdays at 8.30am Morning Prayer and scripture readings followed by Meditation at 8.45am.
On the First Wednesday of the month the 10am Eucharist has an emphasis on healing with the opportunity of anointing.
Wednesdays Playgroup 9.30am – 11am (during school terms)
Parish Contacts
Vicar: The Rev’d Grant Edgcumbe 193 Hotham Street East Melbourne
T: 9417 3341
Website: www.holytrinitymelbourne.org.au Email: office@holytrinitymelbourne.org.au
Vicar’s Warden: Laurie Moore T: 0484 792 134
People’s Wardens: Lynne Mitchell T:0412592005;
Sue Moses-Critchley 9486 3598