194. Tuesday after Second Sunday after Easter.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
thou that leadest Joseph like a flock.
Ezekiel 34, 11-16. For thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
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In every part of his word we learn that the Lord takes pity on the wretched, but overthrows the proud of heart; and this is also evidenced by his whole life on earth. Hear this, ye poor sinners who are scattered and driven away by the devil. Jesus himself stands in the sight of all and declares: “Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” The places whither you have been scattered are the prison houses of sin. Zacchæus has allowed himself to be deceived and led away into the prison of covetousness; the woman of Sychar, into unchastity; Saul, into self-righteousness; the prodigal son, into sensual lust; Onesimus, into false liberty. The proud and carnally minded shepherds, the Pharisees in Israel and the worldly minded clergy of every age, have lent their assistance as the loyal servants of the devil. Woe to such as these; for the Lord will require his flock at their hand. — Jesus himself is seeking you, poor sheep, who have been led astray. You belong to him. The devil has no title to you, even if you have surrendered to him; for Jesus has redeemed you with his blood, and you are his. He seeks each individual sheep, seeks them one and all with the loving desire to save them. He seeks you, that he may draw you to himself, into the good fold. He seeks that which is lost, brings back that which was driven away, binds up that which was broken, and strengthens that which was sick. Not one, not even the most utterly wretched, does he forget. When your conscience is troubled, and you tremble at the thought of death and the judgment, it is the voice of the shepherd calling to you and drawing you to him. Do answer the call; turn your heart to him, and ask of him to have mercy on you and give you true repentance. Come, then; by all means come, thou soul gone astray!
Gather, Jesus, thy sheep that are scattered here and there; gather them all into the good fold, feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and protect them from the attacks of the wolf. Amen.
Savior, who thy flock art feeding
With the shepherd’s kindest care,
All the feeble gently leading,
While the lambs thy bosom share:
Never, from thy pastures roving,
Let them be the lion’s prey;
Let thy tenderness, so loving,
Keep them through life’s dangerous way.