Christ the King Epiphany Church, Wilbraham

The Rev. Martha S. Sipe

April 26, 2026 / Fourth Sunday after Easter

Psalm 23; John 10:1-10

I don’t usually title my sermons.  In fact, I never do.  But I’m going to break my own rule today and give this sermon a title:  In Defense of Sheep.

In defense of sheep.  Because lots of sermons have been written (including by yours truly) about how we are like sheep, and frankly, the comparison is not very flattering.  Sheep aren’t very smart.  They follow a herd mentality – or I guess you might say more appropriately a flock mentality.  if someone else is doing it, I’m going to do it, too.  How many times has that kind of thinking gotten us in trouble?  All the other kids cut class, so I’m going to skip, too.  All the other employees take office supplies home, so I’m going to snatch a box of paper clips.  Everybody exceeds the speed limit on the Mass Pike, so why shouldn’t I?  But those behaviors are risky.  Following the flock isn’t always the wisest plan.  Plus, sheep wander away.  That’s another apt comparison because we, also, are prone to wander:  to wander away from healthy habits, to wander away from smart choices, to wander away, sometimes, even from God.  Sheep follow the flock unthinkingly.  That’s why they say that sheep really aren’t the smartest animals.

But in defense of sheep . . . brains are overrated.  Now, I know that sounds preposterous, but hear me out.  In the kingdom of God, brains don’t really count for much.  It is wiser to trust the shepherd than to trust our own smarts.  Because our own smarts – particularly the “smarter” we are – our own smarts make us believe that we can think and plan and reason our way out of our troubles. 

• Our nation’s leaders seem intent on flexing our military muscles, and so far it’s been directed at other countries.  What happens if those other countries attack our homeland?
• Our climate is changing and scientists say that superstorms will become the norm rather than the exception.  What am I going to do if a hurricane or a tornado blows off my roof?
• You hear about pension plans failing, and experts suggest that Social Security is going to run out of money.  What will I do if I can’t make ends meet?
• 
  

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be actively engaged in putting the world on a better trajectory, nor am I saying we shouldn’t be prudent and make good choices.  And I’m definitely not saying, like my great-grandmother used to say, “God will take care of me . . . I don’t need to cash my social security checks.”  What I am saying is that there are always going to come problems that are too big for us to solve, or troubles that we don’t expect or haven’t planned for.  We can’t possibly have a plan B (or knowing some of you, not just a plan B, but also a plan C and D and E) we can’t have a contingency plan for every possible situation.  If we think we can, we are only fooling ourselves.  Not to mention making our anxiety spike.

This is where my defense of sheep comes in.  We could learn a thing or two from sheep.  Our intellect is good.  God gave us more brains than a sheep and wants us to use them – but not to the exclusion of the faith which God also gave us.  That’s where the sheep have an advantage over us.  Unable to think their way out of trouble, they have no choice but to trust in the shepherd.  And frankly there comes a time when we ought to count less on our brains and more on our faith. 

Jesus says that he came so that the sheep may have abundant life.  Of course, we read sheep as us – and we’re right to do so.  Jesus did come so that we could have abundant life.  But it is worth noting that Jesus actually promised abundant life to the sheep!  And what is abundant life for a sheep?  It is not greener pastures.  When sheep wander away, it’s not because the grass is greener or tastier or there are more varieties of grass to munch on in another field.  Sheep do not worry about whether or not they will be able to continue to live in the manner to which they have become accustomed.  They do not see what other flocks are eating and get jealous.  They are just looking for enough.  And the shepherd’s job is to make sure they have enough.

What is abundant life for a sheep?  It is a life free from anxiety about the future because of the shepherd.  The shepherd’s job is to protect the sheep.  And so our Good Shepherd will protect us.  That doesn’t mean that wolves – like hard times and ill health and sadness – it doesn’t mean that the wolves won’t come.  It doesn’t mean the wolves won’t inflict damage on us.  It doesn’t even mean that wolves won’t sometimes take our lives.  But there is a life that cannot be taken away – and that is the life that Jesus died to ensure we would have – eternal life.

The shepherd gives the sheep what they need:  he provides for them and he protects them.  And both provision and protection he secures for the sheep by his faithful presence.  He is with them – not managing the flock from corporate headquarters.  With them – not sending in a hired hand to do the job.  With them – not just checking in on the flock from time to time.  And herein lies abundant life – no matter what happens in this world, no matter whether we have a plan B, no matter whether we have contingency plans and we get all the way to Plan Z, we may trust that Jesus is faithfully with us.  The abundant life is one that is filled to overflowing with the presence of Jesus – not just that he will be with us when the chips are down, not just that he will be with us when we call on him, but that he is with us always.  And that is more than enough.

Sheep with a faithful shepherd are content.  They aren’t looking for more.  They aren’t worried about the future.  They trust that their shepherd will lead them to green pastures beside still waters.  They fear no evil because the shepherd is with them.  They live an abundant life as a member of the Lord’s flock, not just in this life, but forever.  And that’s why I have written this sermon in defense of sheep.  Oh, that we could lean into our life as sheep in Jesus’ flock.  For sheep know the sound of their shepherd’s voice and they follow him instinctively.  Their trust is not misplaced.  And neither is ours when we trust in the unfailing presence of Jesus Christ.