How Have I Been Shepherded?
- davidwperk
- Feb 16, 2022
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, February 16, 2022
The week of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 949)
AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144
Gen. 31:25-50; 1 John 2:12-17; John 10:1-18
Today we celebrate the Feast of Charles Todd Quintard. (See below.)
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Office Gospel, John 10:1-18
10:1‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’
David’s Reflections
Virginia boasts many beautiful waterfalls, to which I have responded by hiking to see as many as possible. Planning a waterfall hiking day can be quite a chore, because so many possibilities offer themselves and going to any site means not going to others. This Gospel creates a similar sensation. So many phrases and images offer themselves. So many deserve reflection and attention. What do we choose to leave for later reflection?
Soon after becoming an Episcopalian, I went on a silent, directed retreat to Camp Hardtner, the diocesan camp for the Diocese of Western Louisiana, located in a remote section of the rolling hills of central Louisiana. The Rev. John Moloney, resident there and on the bishop’s staff, directed the three days. Each morning, he brought breakfast to my quarters and gave me notes with Scriptures for contemplation. One such note referred me to this passage.
That day. I found myself sitting on a wooded hillside beside a gurgling stream that cascaded over rocks and rolling over in my heart the phrase, “I am the good shepherd.” How had God shepherded my life? How had God guided and guarded me? How had God made my life more full and abundant? How had God gathered up the lost and scattered pieces of myself and transformed them from something resembling a dispersed flock into a more harmonious whole?
Today, I offer that image to you, “I am the good shepherd?” And, I offer my questions to you. How has Jesus been the good shepherd in your life? Looking back on where you have been generates a fuller perspective and pulls the fragments together. The good shepherd works in that arena as well, helping us gather a vision out of random impressions and isolated memories.
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Charles Todd Quintard, bishop of Tennessee. (died 15 Feb 1989 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Charles Todd Quintard
Mighty God, we bless your Name for the example of your bishop Charles Todd Quintard, who persevered to reconcile the divisions among the people of his time: Grant, we pray, that your Church may ever be one, that it may be a refuge for all, for the honor of your Name; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Grace
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (BCP, 833)
A Collect for Early Evening
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
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