Easter 4c - Conclusion

Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30

I was blown into Amarillo yesterday on an American Eagle flight. It was one of those flights that would be fun on a roller coaster but not so much in a plane the size of a mini van. Despite the up and down and side to side we landed safely and not too quickly thanks to the Good Lord and the flight crew. The texts for Easter 4c or Good Shepherd Sunday are about trusting God through turbulence. The widows weeping for Tabitha taken away, rejoice when the Lord through Peter’s “get up!” brings her back. The psalmist is led to places of peace and comfort and plenty through the valley that is dark as death itself. The multitude come out of the great ordeal of starvation and thirst and scorching sun burst into song as sheltered before the throne of the Lamb their suffering and sorrow and tears are wiped away by God. And the sheep secure from being snatched, known by and knowing the Shepherd, are gifted with life eternal where the only turbulence in the air will be from angel wings and countless voices singing.