In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Before going on our vacation last week-to my 25th seminary class reunion in Gettysburg, and then for a few days spent in Colonial Williamsburg, I took a look at the appointed lessons for today and I thought, "how great will this be-the gospel lesson is about the Good Shepherd and his sheep-one of my favorite texts, and here we are going to historic areas of the country where sheep were integral to the lives, culture and economy of our ancestors, as sheep were critical to the lives of folks in both Colonial Williamsburg and Civil War era Gettysburg! So, before getting on the plane to depart in Denver, I said to Susan, "This is going to be the year of the sheep-or at least, the week of the sheep. I'm going to watch and learn and listen all that I can to get a real appreciation for sheep and shepherds-and to try to understand why it is that we-even we 21st century, urbane, educated, technologically advanced Americans, still, still relate to Jesus' suggestion that we are his sheep, and He is our Shepherd.

     And what did I find? It seems being sheep was not such a good thing to be, in early America! Kermit the Frog claims, "it's not easy being green-being a frog".well, it wasn't easy being sheep, either. In Williamsburg, I learned that no lesser figure than George Washington himself was pleased to discover that he could breed an even more useful strain of sheep than those already common in the colonies-the so-called "Leichester Long-Wool". And what so excited Washington about this new strain? They could be made to have even longer wool, and more plentiful haunches! In other words, they would provide even more wool for the shearing, and even more mutton for the table-and that was the simple destiny of all sheep in Colonial America. They were a uniquely utilitarian animal because they provided both wool for clothing, and meat for food. Which was great for the colonialists-these early Americans reveled in the usefulness of such multipurpose animals as sheep-President Washington himself singing their praises and using his own skills at animal husbandry to breed even more productive sheep. In early America, sheep were a blessing to all-except being a sheep, was not such a blessing-to the sheep-who were shorn regularly for wool, until finally, they ended up on a platter!

     And what could make the plight of sheep any worse in American history? In Gettysburg, the first days of July 1863, their plight worsened, because they were also caught in the crossfire between the northern and southern armies engaged in bloody battle in the Civil War! As there were then, there are still now sheep grazing in the fields that make up much of the Gettysburg battlefield. So I asked a park ranger about the presence of sheep during the battle, and he said as in all armed conflict, livestock, like sheep, are collateral damage. They were either eaten by troops, or destroyed in the battle-leaving little chance of escape or survival. As we said, it wasn't easy being sheep in early America.which brings us back to us, and our reading today, and Jesus, implying that we are sheep, and he our Good Shepherd. And the question is, why would Jesus imagine us, as sheep?

     The answer? Well, just look at the similarities! In many ways, we are used by others, and often, we are all used up! Whether at work, or at home, in our families and friendships, we can often end up feeling exhausted and worn and drained, leaving us feeling like we're sheep waiting for the shearer, or the slaughter. We are, many times in life, used or abused by bosses, companies, business, jobs. We are used and abused, literally, by domineering parents, harsh-un-loving husbands (or wives!)-by selfish, self-centered teenagers and youth. Most of us have at times, struggled financially, as if the wolf was constantly at the door, waiting to devour us. And if all that wasn't enough, we are used and abused by time, and schedule, and busy-ness-so much so that we do sometimes, experience life as if we are caught in a cross-fire-as if we are juicy, plump targets trying to keep from being hit and brought down, to be consumed by the lying, cheating, untrustworthy undershepherds-and the wolves lying in the shadows waiting for us to stop and rest and try to catch our breath.

     Jesus refers to us a sheep, because we are like sheep-we are attacked in life, we are in danger in life, we do feel, at least, as if we are being chased to and fro, here and there in life-chased by time and pressure and work and bills and schedules and illness and family strains-all of which can cause us to want to simply stop, and give up-and accept our fate-that we are destined to die-life is hard, then-you die! And as for sheep in early America, life for us, can seem hopeless.

     In the book we are reading in our Monday evening book study, "The Spirit of the Liturgy", the author, Pope Benedict (then Cardinal Ratzinger), writes that we are indeed like sheep, caught in a thorny thicket, unable to free ourselves, waiting to be devoured. Benedict appreciates that imagery, because in the sermon at his installation, he returns to it, writing, "in the ancient near east, it was customary for kings to style themselves as shepherds for their people. This was an image of their power, a cynical image-because to kings, their subjects were like sheep, which the shepherd could dispose of as he wished. When the shepherd of all humanity, the living God, himself became a lamb, he stood on the side of the lambs, who are downtrodden and killed." Pope Benedict says, "This is how he reveals himself to be the True Shepherd: he says, 'I am the Good Shepherd.I lay down my life for the sheep.Jesus says, it is not power, but love that redeems us! This is God's sign: he himself is love. God, who became a lamb, tells us that the world is saved by the (sacrificed Lamb), the Crucified One."

     And that is what Jesus proclaims to us, today.that He who became God with us, that Jesus, who became a Lamb, who was the Lamb of God, gave up His life for us, by dying on the cross for us. And on that cross, Jesus shows His love for us, by opening wide his arms to embrace us, in love. And that's what we are to see, each and every time we come in here, in all our sheep-ishness-we are to see the Lamb of God, who gave his life for the world, opening wide his arms as our Good Shepherd, to embrace us, to hold us, to protect us, to carry us, to save us-from the wolves and the false shepherds and the thorny entanglements of life, until he brings us back to the fold and the flock, back to the Father who created us, and redeemed us, in Christ Jesus.

     And I know, some of you may not be feeling, particularly sheep-ish today. I know some of you may be, today, feeling strong and safe and secure. Indeed, some of you may not be feeling in need of a Good Shepherd, today, to embrace you and comfort you and care for you-today. But you can trust Jesus on this-we are all-sheep. There is a little lamb in every chair here today-a vulnerable, insecure, fearful lamb, in every chair--and out there, sooner or later, wolves will come-you will face danger and threats and thorns-and all of us, each of us, will one day, face the cold, chilly grip of death. And it will be then, that we will look to the Good Shepherd. It will be then, that we will welcome the warm, loving embrace of the Savior, the Crucified One, the Lamb of God who gave His life for the world, who gave his life, for you! Which is why, each and every Sunday, after the words of consecration have been said, and Jesus incarnates himself in the bread and wine of the Sacrament of the Altar, that become His Body and Blood, we sing the Agnus Dei-we sing to this the Passover Lamb and the Good Shepherd-"Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace." Because that is why He became the Lamb of God, and our Good Shepherd-to show us God's mercy, and to grant us peace, in life. To grant us mercy and peace in life, when we struggle and suffer; and to grant us mercy and peace, in death, as we face up to our own mortality, and our great need, our ultimate need, for a Savior-that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, AND, that we will dwell in the house of the Lord, FOREVER! Thanks be to God, for the Lamb who was slain, and for our Good Shepherd, who gave His life, for His sheep!