Thoughts on Good Shepherd Sunday

Jesus is riding on a donkey

And the people were cheering
 As he rode along,
they spread their cloaks on the road.
the whole crowd of his disciples
began to rejoice and praise God
with a loud voice for all the mighty works
they had seen:
 They Shouted:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent,
the very stones will cry out!”
How do you think Jesus felt as he got down off his donkey?
Did the words
“That’s what I’m talking about!” go through his mind
His sheep knew His voice.
They followed wherever he went
It was the story, just as He told it.
 
But when he came to the crest of the hill
Things changed
And as he saw the city,
The scattered multitudes,
he wept over it saying,
 If you had only known on this day, even you,
the things that make for peace!
But now they are hidden from your eyes.
³ For the days will come upon you
when your enemies will build an embankment against you
and surround you and close in on you from every side.
⁴⁴ They will demolish you—
you and your children within your walls—
and they will not leave within you
 one stone on top of another,
 
because you did not recognize the time
 of your visitation from God.”

It was the second time He cried.

Behold the source of the sobs of God:

The multitudes

Who did not know the time

Of their visitation from God.

Sheep without a safe place,

Scattered, homeless,

Shepherded? . . . no, more like

Preyed upon by the hirelings,

Who had run off

To chase profits in the temple,

And not the “speak for God” kind of prophets

No wonder He is angry!

No wonder He cleans house!

No wonder He empties the cluttered fold!

The Temple was always meant to be

God’s sheep cote,

For the Good Shepherd’s sheep

But now it is too late,

The Roman Wolves are coming

 

 

 

Another vantage point to see the city

Is Montrose harbor

One evening just about as it was getting dark

Dawn and I were looking across the harbor

When we saw the sailboats returning

 

Watching the Sailboats At Montrose Harbor

 They seem to know by instinct

The shepherd's call,

That tells them it is time for going home..

Like wooly sheep they come

White forms out of the misty cold

Nosing for the sheltered fold

 Alike, across the bay - downtown

The children graze the city's concrete meadows.

They frolic in the fading shafts of sun.

 Tough lambs are they

Who bear the lashings of the storms

They flock because they have no fold.

 

Wolves in shepherd cloaks compete

The bleating children run

From dirty street to dirty stree

 

And always deep within

The quiet Shepherd calls

Telling them it's time for coming home.

 

 

 

Are you there

 

Shepherd of sheep are you there?

I know how lambish I can be,

For though you're there,

I want you here, cause here

Seems safer, somehow closer

Lions prowl and roar

Seeking whom they may devour

And I am just a fearful little lamb inside

I have seen a pride of lions

In the city streets, asking where I am

Which tower am I hiding in

With power to devour all flesh

They're near and here

And yes, You are there, I know.

The man upstairs for prayers.

Come here, dear Lord

Shepherd of the lost sheep

Come near and I'll be found.