MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion’s prayer, Sunday II after Easter
Week from 16th to 21st April 2018
“Jesus, the good shepherd”
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Introduction: Saying that “Jesus is the good shepherd” expresses his perfection as a faithful and worthy Shepherd. At the same time, this stresses the difference with the worthless shepherds. This is what the Lord said to rebuke them: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly ad brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals” Ez 34:1-5. Jesus referred Himself in a similar way when He made a parable and said: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” Jn 10:7-11. God made us, the sinners that we are, his sheep. For our sake Jesus laid down his life, and that’s why He said: “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” Mt 9:13. He actually gave his life to save every sinner without exception. So, accept his redemption, let Him find and save you, for “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” Lk 19:10.
Monday 16: Jesus is the good shepherd.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” Jn 15:13.
Reading 1: Is 53:4-7; Reading 2: Jn 15:9-15; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jn 15:13. Other references:
– “Then I said: ‘Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, o my God; your law is within my heart” Ps 40:7-8
– “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom 5:8.
Tuesday 17: The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” Jn 10:11.
Reading 1: Is 40:9-11; Reading 2: Jn 10:11-15; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jn 10:11. Other references:
– “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the Lord” Jer 23:3-4.
– “Jesus saw a large crowd, he has compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” Mk 6:34a.
Wednesday 18: The good shepherd cares for his sheep.
“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them” Ez 34:11.
Reading 1: Jn 21:15-17; Reading 2: Ez 34:11-16; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Ez 34:11. Other references:
– “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders” Lk 15:4-5.
– “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” Ps 100:3.
Thursday 19: The good shepherd endures suffering to save his sheep.
“By his wounds you have been healed” 1 Pet 2:24b.
Reading 1: Rom 9:18-26; Reading 2: 1 Pet 2:21-25; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 1 Pet 2:24. Other references:
– “By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken” Is 53:8.
– “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” 1 Pet 3:18.
Friday 20: The good shepherd makes a covenant of redemption for his sheep.
“Through the blood of the eternal covenant back from the dead our Lord Jesus” Heb 13:20b.
Reading 1: Is 49:8-13; Reading 2: Heb 13:20-21; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Heb 13:20. Other references:
– “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit” Zec 9:11.
– “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” Mt 26:28.
Saturday 21: Be aware of the false shepherd.
“Watch out for false prophets” Mt 7:15.
Reading 1: Deu 13:1-5; Reading 2: Mt 7:15-21; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Mt 7:15-16a. Other references:
– “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” Mt 7:15.
– “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness” 2 Cor 11:14-15.
Note : This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German and can be seen on the site www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “HiFi – english “. © Madanet