Easter 4C - 2025

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
The Rev. Andrew McLarty

A Familiar Voice in the Chaos

There is something deeply comforting about Psalm 23—The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. It speaks of guidance, provision, and protection. But in our Gospel reading, we find a different tone. Jesus is surrounded by skeptics, by those who demand proof, who want answers on their terms. They ask, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.

But Jesus responds with frustration—not because they ask, but because they refuse to hear. I have told you, and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. And the reason they do not belong to his flock is that their worldly constructs get in their own way.

What separates the sheep from the skeptics? It’s not intelligence, not status, not even piety. It’s the ability to recognize the Shepherd’s voice.

When Religion Becomes a Burden

The Pharisees in this passage are not villains because they care about the Law. They are misguided because they have turned religion into a system of control rather than a system of liberation. They burden people with rules while missing the heart of God’s call—to love, to welcome, to shepherd.

Jesus doesn’t reject Judaism—he fulfills it. But he rejects the hypocrisy that turns spirituality into a weapon. How often do we, even unintentionally, do the same? Do we make discipleship about being right rather than being kind? Do we focus more on rules than on the Shepherd’s voice calling us to Grace?

Nudging Each Other Toward the Good

Most of us aren’t literal shepherds, but we are part of a flock. Sheep don’t follow in perfect formation—they nudge each other along, adjusting direction together. And isn’t that what we do in our families, our church, our community?

We nudge each other toward kindness when gossip arises.
We nudge each other toward generosity when scarcity whispers fear.
We nudge each other toward hope when despair feels easier.

This is how the flock moves—not by force, but by gentle guidance, by listening for the Shepherd’s voice and helping others hear it too.

The Call to Listen

Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. That’s the heart of it. Not arguments, not demands, but a relationship of trust.

So today, let us ask: Are we listening? Not just for commands, but for love. Not just for answers, but for presence. Because the Shepherd’s voice is still speaking—in Scripture, in prayer, in the nudge of a friend. And when we hear it, we find ourselves exactly where we’re meant to be: safe, known, and led.

Amen.