The Fourth Sunday of Easter (OTA)

Ezekiel 34:11-16

11 “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Eze 34:11–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

 The LORD God will shepherd his people.  He will gather them from all over the world.  He will make them to be his people.  He will lead them to good pasture land.  The people of God will know who he is. The Good Shepherd will bring back his people from the hills to which they have been scattered.

Just as Jesus told his disciples the Shepherd will leave the 99 in order to search out the one.  God goes to seek and save the lost.  Similarly, Jesus tells his disciples when the shepherd is struck down, the sheep will scatter.  So the sheep have been scattered.  They are found in the far reaches of the earth.  Lost sheep are found in your own neighborhood, and in local cities.

God has sent us to call and gather his people.  We are to proclaim the Good news to these sheep.  We are to scatter the word of God among these sheep.  God has provided salvation for his people.  He has redeemed the lost of Sheep.  He calls them back to his holy mountain.  The LORD God is our Shepherd.  He will lead us to an eternal pasture land.  There he will feed us with good food.  He will not let us die.

Jesus Christ has redeemed you to be his holy Sheep.  He has given you new life through his sacrifice on the cross.  God provides you will Holy Food in his word to strengthen you in the true faith.  He has given you eternal life.