I spent many hours over the past weekend driving through blinding snow. My destinations were certainly worth it—our FMCIC staff Christmas party, Jay McIntyre’s ordination in Barrie, ON, and Queensway FMC in Niagara Falls. And those hours of wintry weather in Ontario gave me enough time to listen to Handel’s “Messiah” twice!
Every Advent season brings me back to that unparalleled masterpiece—three hours of nonstop Scripture set to music. The contralto solos always make me think of of my mother, who reminded us every year that she had sung those solos in her high school choir. One of those solos is from Isaiah 40:11(KJV), “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young .”
An ordination in the middle of Advent brings into vivid focus the role of pastor as shepherd. In English, it’s not obvious, but in the Greek in Latin languages, “pastor” and “shepherd” are the same word. I love how the metaphor in Scripture modulates from each of us being a sheep in his flock to some of us being called to follow in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd by becoming shepherds ourselves.
1 Peter 5:2-3 exhorts all of us pastors to this holy calling: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
As our Great Shepherd provides, guides, guards, and tenderly cares for us as his sheep, let us offer the same grace to our people.
