Readings: Psalm 23, and John 10:11-18.

Religion for atheists may be limited to the revelation of anthropomorphic advantages – for example the particular aspects of Christianity that support social bonding such as community and kindness – a Christian household, or a Church gathering is a welcoming and hospitable place for refreshment, and conversation with friends.

In a home, the dining table is most often a place of comfort and rest, conversation, and joy. I have been many places around the world and shown great kindness and hospitality by both Christians and non-Christians alike. One of my favourite journeys and remembrance of great hospitality and food was in Sri Lanka where I had the special privilege of staying with a Sri Lankan family. It is a memory I will treasure.

We cannot separate our humanity from being human. And in the person of Christ, God made Himself for a short while a little lower than the angels, Jesus clothed Himself with our humanity and showed us that people are not things, or objects to be discarded. Our essence, our very definition is by relations and dependent upon the gaze of another.

Jesus says, ‘I know my sheep and my sheep know me’. People are fundamentally relational, and we are called to be one flock. As we enter a Church from outside, we move through a liminal space from the darkness of the world into the holiness of a sacred space to be a nation without borders – at the altar of Christ to be one in Him, as fully human and chosen by grace.

To be Holy or set apart from the world is a ‘turning aside to see’ it transforms our sense and interpretation of the real in a whole new way – for God sees not as man sees – God sees the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7). Therefore, above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8). When we do not understand, we are called to love, when we do not know a thing, we are called to love, when confusion reigns, we are called to love. We may be justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28), but this is a faith working always through love. Love is the beginning and the end, the foundation of all in all. Love is our witness.

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding’. (Proverbs 3:5). With this trust in God comes humility. For we are not given to know all things, with times, and reasons. We are the holders of a mystery. As we enter Passiontide we remember the good shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep, and likewise the many saints and martyrs of today and of history, who hold now or held fast to the truth of Christ with courage and missionary zeal.

Close to us is Saint Thomas Becket, who upon being made Archbishop of Canterbury transformed the whole of his heart and soul, directing himself toward the sacred duties of protecting the Church against the politics of the day, and earthly authority. Closer still are the Christians, like the Huguenots of the 16th century, fleeing persecution today. Saint Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, on his Damascus Road conversion was told by Jesus, ‘I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:18).

A priest in every Parish is therefore an essential element of mission – above all else this is the primary goal and cost baseline. People learn by experience, clergy who have given up their life to God must be visible in the community, on the streets, in the town square, and approachable. Religious life and witness to it is the root of the Church. Real transformation and progress is made when ‘heart speaks unto heart.’ (St John Henry Newman). 

And we are called to be a royal priesthood, to be witnesses that show people Jesus. A favourite quote from Pope Francis says: “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become in a sense collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep.’ This is what I am asking you — be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”

Any sort of reimagining of external circumstances without inner transformation is essentially window dressing – for we carry ourselves into every place that we are. The desert fathers and mothers fled from social systems, and culture; not to leave their neighbour but to find them.

Heaven and earth were knit together in the womb of Mary so that we may have a reason for the certainty of our faith. We may long to gaze upon the face of Christ whom we love yet do not see, but Jesus says blessed are they who believe and have not seen and that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.

‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.’

The darkness of the valley is on the streets, and in the town squares – among the sheep who are lost – they’re waiting outside the shop doors on a Sunday when the Church mass begins. There is on our local high street a homeless woman who loves Christ so much that she has developed a ministry; she has a table, a bible and an empty chair that is an invitation for others to come and sit – and many people, of different backgrounds and religions sit with her and talk about Jesus – this is where God is calling us to be visible and among the sheep.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48).

The Apostle Peter writes ‘if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ (1 Peter 4:16-17).

It would be better for the Church to be a martyr than to follow in the ways of the world, for it is not by human judgement that we are saved. Saint Patrick said, ‘sufficient for me is that honour which is not seen of men but is felt in the heart, as faithful is He who hath promised and who never lies.’

We do not need the mixed ecology terminology of business consultants to run an organisation. What is it that we believe in but the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we are not called as Christians to be defenders of all faiths, but with honesty and integrity to give a reason for our own. Rudolf Bultmann says in his Theology of the New Testament: ‘Faith’ is ‘faith in…’ That is, it always has reference to its object, God’s saving deed in Christ.’

Yes, we must uphold free speech and freedom of thought, these are fundamental values essential to human development, yet the Church must always hold fast to her role as a doctor of souls. May we therefore see persons as souls whom we love, embracing every difference in thought, word and deed, whilst always rediscovering the richness of our creativity in Christ alongside our common human needs – then we might begin to show people Jesus and the meaning of heaven come to earth.

Amen.