Relationship! That’s what this day is all about; the relationships of mothers and children; fathers and children; and the relationship that God offers to each one of us. Humans are born into relationship and we die into relationship. We are created by God to be in relationship with each other and with God.

Actually, we can trace this ideal of relationship all the way back to Genesis: "So God made humanity in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them." (Genesis, 1:27) This relationality that we experience is the very image of God given to human beings. However distorted or problematic our relationships become, we are unavoidably and inevitably created together. We cannot live apart from other humans, though some may try, and we cannot truly live apart from God.

An inspirational story that I heard a few years ago might help us to talk about these relationships.

Once upon a time, twins, a boy and a girl, were conceived in the same womb. Weeks passed, and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed with joy: "Isn’t it great that we were conceived? Isn’t it great to be alive?"

The first time I heard this story was at an annual service for persons who had been part of hospice during that past year. Every person there had lost a loved one to death, many through tragic circumstances. I suspect that some in that room had questions about life after death and some probably questioned the very existence of God. How often have you heard similar questions to the twins but in a different context? Is there really a God? Maybe the idea of God is made up because it makes us feel good?

A few years ago a friend emailed the results of a project proposed by a teacher in a Christian School. She asked her students to watch television commercials and see if they could come up with some ideas to communicate what they knew about God. These students may be a whole lot smarter than we think. Here are some of their ideas:

Today’s gospel lesson leads me to suggest that God is like a Serta mattress, you know the one that all the little sheep are talking about.

Seriously, our lesson from the gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the good shepherd. It represents one of several statements in John’s gospel where Jesus uses the divine "I am." to define his mission. In other places, Jesus says I am the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door of life (10:7), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way, the truth, and the life (14:6), the vine (15:1) and here, Jesus says "I am the good shepherd." In these "I am." statements we here again the "I am who I am." of God’s appearance to Moses in the burning bush.

After this self-revelation, Jesus goes on to detail the difference between the good shepherd and the hired hand. "What distinguishes the behavior of the shepherd from that of the hired hand is his care of the sheep. They belong to him." (Texts for Preaching, p. 305) Jesus describes an intimate relationship between himself as the shepherd and the sheep of his flock. He compares this relationship to the one he has with God, his Father. We hear that Jesus’ solidarity with God is mirrored by the solidarity that Jesus offers to us.

For me as a pastor, one of the most interesting aspects of this passage is that the title I carry means "to shepherd." Yet no matter how devoted a pastor is, no matter how sacrificial they might be, pastors are not always able to save and protect their flock. I wish I could, oh how I wish. Only Jesus is the good shepherd, only Jesus is able to walk the dark valleys with his sheep because they belong to him. Pastors can walk with you, but only as a third person, not as the second.

During the 10:45 service, we are going to baptize little Katie Krueger acknowledging her place in the family of God. We incorporate her into the body of Christ and recognize that she is one of God’s flock. A part of that liturgy is the congregations promise to support the church, the body of Christ with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.

In a sense, we are also promising to help Katie’s parent’s to raise her in such a way that she will recognize Jesus as the good shepherd, especially if she must walk through dark valleys. Hopefully, if that time ever comes she will walk with others as her side and Jesus will be the one to guide her feet.

Off to the side, away from the crowds that come every day to the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., is a tiny chapel that is part of the Cathedral but with a separate door. Dominating this small space called the "Chapel of the Good Shepherd" is a sculpture that helps to give the visitor a sensation of being embraced as they enter the chapel. Sculptor, Walter Hancock created out of pink granite a relief sculptor of the upper torso of the good shepherd with a lamb in his arms. Just slightly larger than life size, the arms of the shepherd, the head of the lamb, and the subtle downward direction of the shepherd’s head communicates the intimacy of this knowing relationship.

Furthermore, the curve of the shepherd’s head seems to extend from the sculptor on the wall out into the chapel itself, gathering in the visitor and helping them to identify with the lamb. Many have come into this space with cares and concern over the years. "There are several signs that visitors relate to the reality the art represents." (Lectionary Homiletic, May, 2000, p. 13) One can notice a slight discoloration in Jesus’ hand because of the oil from human hands that have touched the sculpture. Interestingly, this discoloration is also prevalent on the lamb’s head.

Jesus Christ is our shepherd; we are part of God’s flock. We are owned by God, but not in the sense of God disposing with us however he feels, but in the sense of belonging. We belong to God.

We belong to God and we gather in our Father’s house. This is a place of listening and learning, teaching and questioning, growing and developing, in other words deepening our relationship with God and with one another. We are all invited to share in this relationship.

But God’s house is more than this building, more than this congregation, it’s any place in the world where we make a profound and personal connection with our Creator, where we grow in faith and love. What we learn here should not be trapped forever within these walls!

Years ago, when I was but a wee child, there was an early television show called "This is Your Life." We could think of it as the beginnings of reality programming. A guest, usually with a public persona, was treated to a reunion with childhood teachers and early friends.

Today, rather than "This is Your Life" we are invited to "This is Your Family!" and every one of us is the guest star. But have no fear, we’re not here to expose the black sheep of your family, we’re here to welcome each other into God’s family.

Vicki McClelland Jeter gives us a clue as to the nature of God’s family in a short piece called the "Art of Friendship." She writes:

In laying down his life for us, Jesus, our good shepherd, acts out his love for us. He gives his own life that we might discover a new relationship with God, his Father and our Father. And in giving his life for us he shows us the way to be in relationship with our sisters and brothers in the family of God.

Shepherd God,
help each person here this morning

to respond to your invitation to a new and changed life
through inclusion in your flock. May we experience the intimacy of being known by you.
May we hear and acknowledge the challenge of following in your way.

Thank you God

for the blessings of adoptive parents, birth parents and foster parents. Thank you for those who have nurtured our lives,
and given a hint of the love, care, and support
that you provide when we turn our lives over to you and follow in your way.

On this mother’s day,
we hold before you all who seek to become parents
and find that what is a natural process to some is not for them.

Open to them the possibility of new medical developments

that will improve their chances of giving birth.

Help us all to see that parenting is not just the process of birthing,

but also the life long process of nurturing and caring

for other human beings.
Broaden our understanding of family to include all people
in various stages of their lives,
whether they are single or married,
with children or without, young or older.

Be present to those who are experiencing transitions in their families

as children grow and leave home for college, prepare for weddings, and move to distant cities.
Be with those who are in the beginnings of raising children
and wonder if their little ones will always be so demanding.
We lift and hold before you all families this day