What is the power of a person’s name? Today is what we call Good Shepherd Sunday, and on this day we remember and celebrate the reality that our Risen Lord Jesus Christ is in fact the Good Shepherd who calls us each by name.
The promise of the Lord is clear and direct: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish” (John 10:26).
Today, we bring another child into the flock of the Lord. Today, Evangeline Franecki begins her journey into eternal life under the watchful care of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Today, as the One present here in this assembly, the Lord calls her by her true name, as a beloved child of God.
In the Biblical worldview, there is tremendous power in a person’s name. The ancient Hebrews refused to speak the name of God that was revealed to Moses, using pseudonyms instead out of regard for the sacred power of that name. Remember also how God changed the name of Abram to Abraham as a mark of his covenant with the Lord. Remember how Jesus changed the name of Simon to Peter, the name of Levi to Matthew, the name of Saul to Paul. Do you remember how, just a few weeks back on Resurrection Sunday, when Mary came to the empty tomb in grief, she was not able to recognize Jesus as alive and risen until her called her by name?
In our first reading today, the scripture is clear in displaying how Peter called Tabitha by name when he healed her and brought her back to life. And when we hold all of this together as a general theme, there can be no mistake that we are meant to understand how the name of a person holds power and meaning.
Since the earliest decades in the Church, there has been the tradition of taking the name of a Saint at the time of baptism. As far as we can tell, this practice began with a prince named Fulvian in the first century.
According to tradition, it was a princely ruler in Ethiopia, named Fulvian, who killed the apostle Matthew. Later, Fulvian repented of this evil deed and he asked to be baptized. And just before Fulvian was baptized by the bishop, a voice from the heavens called out, “Do not call him Fulvian, but call him Matthew.” Call him Matthew, in remembrance of that holy man for whose death the prince was responsible. From that day forward, he was to bear the name of this apostle as a continual reminder that now he shares the same grace, the same baptism, the same Lord, the same family as that holy apostle.
This tradition has fallen out of use somewhat in recent times, but it is a good reminder of the power and meaning that lies behind our names.
The Good Shepherd is the one who calls us each by name. One of the distinctive elements of our catholic tradition is that the general focus of the liturgy is never upon the individual, but rather upon the entire people of God.
Some of you have grown up in Methodist churches, or have spent time in Baptist congregations or in other Protestant churches. If so, I am sure you have noticed that the hymns we sing are typically different than theirs. Not all of them, of course, but a majority are different. Do you know why? Most popular Protestant hymns are all in the first person singular. “And he walks with me, and he talks with me.” Or, “O, how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.” Remember: I spent a few years as a Baptist, so I know these hymns! But the hymns that are most appropriate when we gather for the Eucharist are collective ones. We worship, we sing. The Lord redeems us.
Another distinctive element of our catholic tradition is how, when we do use the name of an individual, then we only use their Christian name, the name given at baptism. Because in this house, at this table, this is the only name that matters. Family names mean nothing within the body of Christ. They signify only our particular family tribe or national identity. But in the Church, we come together as one new flock united under the one Good Shepherd who calls us each by the name that he knows.
Now, we’ve talked about the name by which the Lord calls each one of us, but what about this title by which we call Christ on this Sunday: the title of the Good Shepherd.
What does it mean for us to call him our Good Shepherd? You know the primary inspiration in that most famous of Psalms: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
But what does it mean for us to call him Good? Is this the same as nice, or polite, or friendly? Like when we say, “Oh, he’s a good boy.” Or, “Now, you be good!” What exactly does the Church mean when we call him the Good Shepherd?
Aslan, of course, is meant as an icon of Jesus, the Messiah, the true Shepherd who lays down his own life to protect his beloved flock, to redeem his fractured creation.
And so, of course, Mr. Beaver is right on target. This Shepherd of ours is good, but he isn’t safe. There’s nothing tame about this Shepherd. In fact, he’s a bit wild! A bit reckless, a bit unpredictable. Do you remember the parable about the lost sheep? When the Shepherd decides to leave the 99 sheep in the field and to go after the one sheep that became lost.
You know, that’s not a very smart plan! That is definitely not the way they are taught at the shepherd’s training school! If one gets lost, you have to cut your loses, and guard even more carefully the remaining flock. But you don’t ever leave them alone out in the wilderness, and go chasing after the one who wandered off!
No, this Shepherd is not really safe, but he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you!
More than anything else, my sisters and brothers, I hope and pray that you will understand this simple truth: the Good Shepherd continues to search for you, to look for you, to long for you. It’s this compelling desire of God, this passionate love of God, which causes this Shepherd to be reckless in pursuing us.
And he continues to pursue us even when we are in his flock! Can you believe it? I know that I struggle to understand it, but I know in my heart that it’s true: God cannot get enough of us! Always, Christ wants to be with us more!
He knows our name. He calls out to us. Listen for his voice, my friends, and follow where he leads. You will never find a better option. For this Good Shepherd gives us life which is real, and deep and unending. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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