Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead us, and bring us to your holy hill and to your dwelling. (Ps.43:3) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our heart be found pleasing and acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they my have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, NRSV);

What happened to the abundant life I thought we were to have on earth? Lately, I find myself asking this question. I went to the gas station the other day. It took over thirty dollars to filled the tank of my small Kia. I used to be able to fill it with only half that amount. Believe me I was a happy camper then. The cost of everything is going up and up and up: eggs; milk; fruit; daycare; healthcare; mortgages; and tuition. How are we suppose to have an abundant life when everything costs more and we face new difficulties almost daily. In all honesty, I get a little stressed out thinking about what is to become of us in the these times that lay ahead.

When someone passes away, we sometimes hear that he or she has entered “the more abundant life.” Jesus says that he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He came for us to have life! Doesn’t this sound like while we are living we can have abundance? We can have an abundant life during our life-time and beyond because Jesus died and suffered on the cross.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy”(John 10:10a, NRSV). Some of these leaders were oppressive and mislead the people in how to following the Law of Moses. We recall the words of the prophet Ezekiel prophesized “...Thus says the Lord God: “you have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd;…I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep…I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will strengthen the weak…You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.”(Ezekiel 34:2b, 4-5,12b,15-16,31)

Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Currently, we are celebrating the great fifty days of Easter with resounding shouts of “Alleluia, Alleluia” rejoicing for the risen Lord. Ezekiel’s prophesy of the Old Testament promised that God will come as the shepherd for the people. Ezekiel’s prophesy is fulfilled by Jesus. The risen Christ is the One who nourishes us in the word and sacraments. The risen Christ gives us life and enables us to have life and have it more abundantly. [copied and adapted from Preaching the Lectionary: The Word of God for the Church Today Reginald H. Fuller. The Liturgical Press. 1984 (Revised Edition), pp. 79-81 on http://liturgy.slu.edu/4EasterA041308/theword_indepth.html]

What does this all mean for us? We are called, after Easter Sunday, to discover the abundant life brought to us through the resurrection. The Easter promise is the abundant life provided to us when it appears that our resources are scarce. The shepherd’s gate is open for us and does not shut us out. I believe we are called to discover the meaning of abundant life through a lens that maybe different from society’s.

Abundant life is within our grasp through: the beauty of fellowship with a stranger; the sharing of the Eucharist; spending time with family; visiting the sick; bringing a friend to church; offering a ride to a neighbor; caring for a child so a young mother can rest; being a good stewardship of the resources God has provided including our environment and finances.

We are sometimes challenged to understand the fullest meaning of abundant living. An abundant life is God’s gift of grace to us. We cannot have it or get it on our own. The opportunity for abundant life to the fullest is available for all Christian believers who seek God and follow where God leads them along their life’s journey.

The Great Fifty Days of Easter are reminders of our pledge to follow the Good Shepherd no matter where we may be lead. Prior to entering seminary, I ignored a “restless and nagging tug” that I did not understand while I pursued all of the other things that I wanted to do rather than discover the spiritual meaning of what was going on within me. During that time, I felt completely lost and full of turmoil. I sensed that my life was going to change in some way but initially did not know how. Once it became clearer to me that my life change may have something to do with ministry, my initial struggle was due to not wanting to give up my comfortable lifestyle and financial security. How many of you are familiar with the phrase, “let go and let God?” Then you know what I am referring to with your own struggles of releasing your will. God calls us to allow the gates of our hearts to open and give way to the Good Shepherd as the keeper and guardian our souls. Peter exclaims in our epistle reading, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls” (1Peter 2:25, NRSV).

The morning I had an appointment with Bishop Jane Dixon regarding her discernment for me as an aspirant in our diocese, something strange happened. I woke up singing the hymn, “Where He Leads Me” (#144,1982 Hymnal). It was my mantra for the entire morning. I think I was still being reminded to let go of my will and just follow God’s lead. I needed to move toward complete trust and dependence on God in this and all circumstances. Whatever decision was about to be rendered I had entered the discernment process with an open heart. All I knew was that I would be content as a lay or ordained leader because I knew without any reservations, my call was to serve God in the capacity I was being lead. My prayer was that God would order my steps in this world. I was no longer concerned with what I had to giving up and what would happen next.

Only when I let go of my will then I was completely able to let God lead me by placing my dependence on trusting, seeking, and listening to God through prayer. The way for all of to “let go and let God” is through prayerful discernment. The abundant life can still be ours in the midst of doubt through the grace of God. Letting go brings calmness, serenity, and a sense of peace that only the Good Shepherd can provide for a restless soul.

A Japanese version the 23^rd psalm offers us alternative view of the abundant life. The author writes:

The Lord is my pacesetter: I shall not rush.

God (He) makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals:

God (He) provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity.

God (He) leads me in the ways of efficiency through calmness of mind,

And God’s (his) guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,

I will not fret.

For God’s (his) presence is here,

God’s (His) timelessness and (his) all-importance will keep me in balance.

God (He) prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity,

by anointing me with oils of tranquility.

My cup of joyous energy overflows;

surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours.

For I shall walk in the pace and dwell in the house of my Lord forever.

(“23^rd Psalm: The Lord Is My Pacesetter,” Toki Miyashiro, New Catholic Hymnal, 235 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 197found in Homily Service, April 21, 2002).

We realize that the abundant life that Jesus extends to us as a gift from God is not a new car, a designer bag, or dream house. There’s certainly is nothing wrong with wanting or having material comforts but these is so much more The abundant life God promises is assured to us through the risen Christ. All the things needed for a well-lived life comes in divine order when we are able to willingly go through the gate and follow the Good Shepherd. Abundant life is living out our baptism vows everyday to walk with God in this life and the life to come.

May the grace of God be with you during these Great Fifty Days of Easter and always. Amen.