As One Flock ...

There's something about baby animals, lambs in particular, that attracts the attention of young and old alike. Even before the first lamb of the season is born, parents are asking when they can take the kids out to our ranch to see the baby lambs following their mothers and, as they grow, frolicking with their age-mates as baby lambs do.

Once they get to be a few weeks old, those lambs begin to act like a little flock of their own. They band together and move as one, sometimes on a flat-out run, othertimes just bouncing on little legs that seem to be spring-loaded. Think of the times when you've seen a flock of geese or other birds moving in unison, changing directions as though on a cue only they can sense, hundreds soaring as one through the sky. That's how the lambs are flocking and frolicking: they are many, yet they are moving as one. It's a beautiful, amazing thing to watch.

Meanwhile, back at the church ...

Pastor Sheepherder recalled something very-flock-like that had happened during her first month at Hope. (Back then she was called Vicar, during the year of internship prior to her ordination to the pastoral office.) Vicar Sheepherder was teaching the Sunday School's junior high class about what it meant to confess belief "...in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth ...." First Article, The Apostles Creed.

After a brief discussion, she sent the class to put on their coats and go outside, to wander and to reflect, silently and individually,on the creation that surrounded them, the Creator who made it all, and their place in it as creatures, young men and women created in the image of God. The Sunday School officers, ushers and greeters were advised not to worry:The young people were indeed supposed to be out and about the church yard on Sunday School assignment.

Then, Vicar Sheepherder settled in to observe the youngsters.

Well, their silent, individual meditation lasted for all of a minute or two. The youngsters soon started flocking together. They made their way as one to the adjacent cemetery, and, as one, moved through the headstones and plots. Here and there the flock would stop, as one. Each youngster who had a relative buried there would introduce the others to the memory of this grandmother, that uncle, or even siblings. They frolicked as one from grave to grave -- no fear of death, only delight in being one with each other and the saints who had gone before them.

And, oh, the prayers of thanksgiving for God's creation that came forth from them as we reassembled to end the class hour.

How amazing, how beautiful, when the Good Shepherd's flock moves as Jesus Christ, prayed we would be:

"Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one" ... "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:11, 17-23)

St. Paul echoes the Good Shepherd's intent that the holy flock, the holy commuity of Christ, would be one:

I[Paul], therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.(Ephesians 4:1-6)

Thanks be to God -- The Creator, The Christ our Savior and Good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit, who calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies and keeps us together in the one flock. Thanks be to Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- together, one God.