St George's Cathedral, Cape Town

“For the lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of the water of life…” Rev 7 v 17a

One of the outstanding stage musicals in recent times must surely be “The Lion King” which l had the joy of seeing at the Montecasino, a few years back. The story could apply to each one of us since it is about Simba the Lion and his sense of calling, of vocation and the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on the vision. This is a powerful challenge to us as Christians, not to allow ourselves to be diverted from our true vocation, to become children of God who in Christ Jesus continue to live out in our bodily selves today the love of God for the world.

The song which opens Lion King seems to be so pertinent to my own situation here today as l step down as Dean of Cape Town and move into the next chapter of my vocation in retirement. The chorus goes like this:

“It’s the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life…” (Tim Rice)

Does that speak to you also?

Today in our liturgical circle we observe Good Shepherd Sunday, looking at the Risen Christ who is the shepherd who has laid down his life for the sheep. It was in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland that my vocation to the priesthood was nurtured, then it was at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Grassy Park that l was made rector of a parish and today, in the Cathedral Church, on Good Shepherd Sunday, I retire as Dean. Incidentally, the emblem of the Community of the Resurrection of which l was a member for ten years is that of the lamb described in the book of Revelation.

“For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their Shepherd”

It is He who has brought salvation to the whole world and chapter 7 from which we read this morning focussing on worship, was written to encourage the Christians who were being persecuted in the early Church during the time of the Roman empire. Looking back over the past fifty years, since God first revealed my vocation in 1960, my Matric year, has again reminded me of God’s faithfulness towards each one of us and how for many of us our journey towards God is like the labyrinth and always held in the circle of love. I do not want to add anymore to what l have said or written, about my four three years of ministry, and l even allowed myself to be interviewed by ‘Sondag Son’, but today l want to celebrate, l can think of no other words, the generous, prodigal grace of God, whose love for us cannot be measured.

The reading from the Acts of Apostles during Eastertide reminds us that God continues to be at work in us through the power of the Holy Spirit e.g. Peter the betrayer, becomes bold in calling Tabitha back to life and we are told:

“… and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9 v 42 b

God continues to use us today to bring new life and hope to a people in our country today who have become pessimistic and fearful about the future and who can only see the bars and not the stars. To us the Holy Spirit comes today and invites us by our Christian witness to cause the despairing and the desperate to say:

“Ek slaan my oë op na die berge
Waar sal my hulp vandaan kom?
My hulp is van die Here
Wat die hemel en aarde gemaak het..” Psalm 121

We as the community of faith whom God calls to be a place of hope and healing in this city must continually raise our eyes and also invite others to see the glory of God around us. Yes l accept for both you the baptised of St George’s Cathedral and myself, there will be a sense of loss – we must not avoid it. Our Easter celebrations, the Paschal candle, symbol of the Risen Christ, all to serve to remind us that.

“… unless a grain of wheat falls into
The earth and dies it remains just a
Single grain, but if it dies, it bears
Much fruit …’ John 12 v 24

The presence of the Risen Christ here among us is proof of these words and a reminder also that he is the Good Shepherd who has laid down his life for the sheep and feeds us at every Eucharist. Priests move on and God will raise up another to take on responsibility for feeding the sheep and tending the lambs but the Gospel today points us to Jesus who says:

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them
And they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” v 27

We are all to look to Jesus. This reminds me of one of my mentors in my early days as a priest, Canon Cecil Wood who said to me: “Do not be like Father X , who had a following, and when he left they followed him.” No, l or any priest would have failed if you do not continue to follow him who says earlier in Chapter 10.

“ I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” v 10

It was Archbishop Desmond who challenged my own picture of Jesus the Good Shepherd, linking it to St Luke’s gospel of the shepherd who goes to find the lost sheep. All our paintings and statues picture Jesus with a nice, cuddly lamb on his shoulders – no, said

the Archbishop it is rather an obstinate, smelly, dirty ram that the shepherd finds and brings home rejoicing. That is good news for me / us.

“Though in a bare and rugged way
through devious lonely wilds, l stray
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile
and barren wilderness shall smile…” (AMR 179)

Here at St George’s Cathedral that continues to be our message; here is the oasis where sinners meet, this place of hope and healing where no one is excluded from this amazing love, the love we encounter with Jesus, our Good Shepherd for:

“… he will guide them to springs of the water of life and (is it not wonderful to know?) God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

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