“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Dear Baptismal Candidate, dear Confirmees!
You are baptized and confirmed on a day that is called ‘Misericordias Domini’, also known as ‘Shepherds Sunday’. The day is called this, because the biblical readings for this Sunday remind us of two very important aspects of Christianity by means of this picture of Jesus as our good and merciful shepherd.
The first of these two aspects is that we as Christians indeed have a good shepherd, who takes care of us. This might sound a bit odd at first, but some of you might still remember Joe Burnham’s sermon from a couple of weeks ago, where he talked about what makes our faith in Jesus Christ so special compared to other religions: And it is exactly this fact that we have a God who has taken care of us rather than to just leave us with the expectation of leading a ‘good’ life. Because: It isn’t by far the strife for an ethically and morally correct life that makes us different and unique in the religious world. There are lots of devout Buddhists or Muslims, or Hindus. What makes Christianity unique is the fact that we acknowledge in faith that, even though we try hard, we are utterly unable to live up to God’s expectations. We acknowledge in faith that we constantly fall short of what God demands. In the same faith how-ever we also know that we are still accepted by God, because He, himself, made up for our mistakes, and He is willing to forgive and to help us through Jesus Christ. There is no other religion in this world, which can claim to have such a caring, merciful and good God.So, we defiantly have a good shepherd, who takes care of us. And the consequence of belonging to this good shepherd, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us, is that we are His flock, the sheep of His pasture. This however means, if we look at it from the other side of the relationship, that we are not autonomic or self consistent, or totally independent. Christians do not live their lives without consulting God, without listening to his advice, without bearing in mind his good will. As Christians we rely on our Lord, who guides us in our lives. And with this thought we come to the 2nd important aspect that we should always remember as Christians: In faith we accept that we will see and taste the care and protection of our Shepherd, only where we trust in his leadership, meaning where we stay close to our shepherd, always following Him on that path that He leads us. And where does he lead us? > To eternal life! Absolutely! This is the final destination, but what about the path leading there? Isn’t it interesting to see, where Jesus went in his earthly days? Jesus went to preach to the people and to discuss with the Phari-sees. He went to comfort those, who mourned, and to be merry with those who celebrated life. And although He, himself, didn’t follow the temptations of the devil, he went to help sinners, sick, and outcasts like prostitutes, rather than to exclude or condemn them together with the mob. And this is what we can see as the major principle in His life and way: Jesus didn’t go with the flow. What led his steps was the trust in his loving and compassionate Father. It is therefore no wonder that it was a part of Jesus every-day life to go to a silent place to pray, or to go the synagogue on a Sabbath day to listen to God’s word. This steadfast trust in God and this compassion for others – especially for those in need – was however also the reason, why His way was and is inseparably connected with suffering and rejection – as we can learn it from today’s Bible word which says: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” The way, that Jesus leads us, isn’t the way that is normally chosen by humans, because it is a way that trusts in God alone and cares about others rather than to just think about one’s own advantage. This it is the way, how Jesus has overcome the vicious circle of mistrust, violence and guilt. It is the way that leads us to the Easter victory; the victory, which we can happily celebrate, be-cause God lets us participate in it through the suffering of His Son Jesus Christ. Following Christ as our shepherd – and thus to benefit from his care and guidance –therefore means to imitate Jesus’ example of God’s compassionate care. For instance by: Talking good about others rather than to gossiping about them. By focusing not only on our own advantages, but behaving and dealing with others in a just and merciful way. By helping others rather than watching how they suffer. By coming to someone’s defence rather than to join the choir of those who condemn and say: We have known it all along! But most of all it means to keep the contact with God, our heavenly Father. Even if others should make comments about us going to church or praying before meals or reading the bible or praying for his spiritual guidance. I know; every day we are tempted as Christians to choose the line of the least resistance; a temptation also Christ had to endure. If we however permanently give in to this temptation not to follow Christ on his way, we will definitely go astray, just caring about ourselves. And thus finally we will be alone; apart and far away from the shepherd, who is willing to take care of us. I personally don’t want to imagine, what would happen, if God eventually – at the end of my life, or at the end of all times – would see just me, and what I have done in life; not looking at his Son Jesus Christ, and what He has achieved in order to help me!
It is for this reason that all Christians, not only newly baptized or confirmed Christians like you; no, all of us do more than good to listen and look at our shepherd Jesus Christ, following his lead and example, in order to be returned to the path that leads us to the eternal feast of Easter. That you, together with all of us, will always recognize Jesus’ voice, and follow His call and example, this is my wish and prayer, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. May therefore peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! AMEN