Jeremiah 23: 1-8 (links validated 6/19/24a)

Note, as well that the diligent shepherd promises not only to tend the flock Himself but to train up under-shepherds who can work with him. And under the watch of diligent under-shepherds, the flock will “no longer fear nor be frightened.” The end result is that “none shall be missing,” It is a shame this text is not paired with a Gospel text pertaining to the Good Shepherd, though perhaps you will have a chance to draw out that connection in your preaching. Because, of course, the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 holds a similar contrast. Before we are introduced to the Shepherd who goes out to seek and to save, the text is clear that the shepherd first lost the sheep. Greek is plenty comfortable with the passive voice and could have intimated that the sheep in question just wandered off. But, in fact, the shepherd is first culpable and then determined to restore what he had lost. This also works well with the image of an under-shepherd, which we see here, following the example of the Good Shepherd who modeled and trained those learning from him.

let me turn back to poetry and the words of Brian Walsh, as he reflects on Colossians: “In the face of a culture of death a world of killing fields a world of the walking dead Christ is at the head of the resurrection parade transforming our tears of betrayal into tears of joy giving us dancing shoes for the resurrection party And this glittering joker who has danced in the dragon's jaws of death now dances with a dance that is full of nothing less than the fullness of God this is the dance of the new creation this is the dance of life out of death and in this dance all that was broken all that was estranged all that was alienated all that was dislocated and disconnected is reconciled comes home is healed and is made whole everything all things whatever you can imagine visible and invisible mountains and atoms outer space, urban space, and cyberspace every inch of creation every dimension of our lives all things are reconciled in him And it all happens on a cross it all happens at a state execution where the governor did not commute the sentence it all happens at the hands of the empire that has captivated our imaginations it all happens through blood not through a power grab by the sovereign one it all happens in embraced pain for the sake of others it all happens on a cross arms outstretched in embrace and this is the image of the invisible God this is the body of Christ.

Father Frederico B. Gomez de Esparza was a Catholic priest affectionately known throughout his parish in Yuma, Arizona as Father Fred. He was a priest that hailed from Mexico and who served bilingual parishes in Arizona. By all accounts, Father Fred did his job well. Everybody loved him. He was known for his sermon mastery and knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church. He also knew the Scriptures, administered the sacraments, comforted the sick, conducted wedding and funerals - everything that clergy are supposed to do. He was later found out to have no credentials and was counterfeit...

The kingdom of God is over and again that small thing that all-but gets lost in the hubbub of the wider world. The kingdom is not advertised on some glitzy neon sign towering over Times Square but rather it’s the treasure buried in a field. It’s not an expensive jewel displayed under plate glass and bright lights at Saks Fifth Avenue but it is the pearl of great price that someone just happens to stumble upon in an unlikely place. The kingdom does not call attention to itself like a marching band coming down the street with brass and drums blaring but is instead the yeast that disappears into the larger lump of dough, the tiniest of all seeds that vanishes almost the very moment it hits the soil. The kingdom of God—and the One who rules over it as the King of kings—really is the greatest thing ever. Jeremiah predicted it. We now live it. But as it was for the Israelites long ago, so for us: we sometimes feel underwhelmed unless we can have the Holy Spirit keep our spiritual vision sharp and clear.

Father Frederico B. Gomez de Esparza was a Catholic priest affectionately known throughout his parish in Yuma, Arizona as Father Fred. He was a priest that hailed from Mexico and who served bilingual parishes in Arizona. By all accounts, Father Fred did his job well. Everybody loved him. He was known for his sermon mastery and knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church. He also knew the Scriptures, administered the sacraments, comforted the sick, conducted wedding and funerals - everything that clergy are supposed to do. He was later found out to have no credentials and was counterfeit...