Last week we considered the command to love one another. Those considerations led us to admit our tendency to narrow the scope of our love. Like the first generation of Christians who considered Gentiles unclean and resisted inviting them into the faith community, there are people we struggle to love and find it difficult to welcome. The small size of most faith communities and the decline of denominations in developed nations are consequences of the limits we place on love. The sad truth is we focus on our circle of family and friends because it is comfortable. The reality is we limit our love to people we like and people like us. We avoid people we disagree with and put distance between ourselves and our enemies. God’s commend to love one another has always apply to all people and all nations.

This day in Easter season is known as Good Shepherd Day. The collect and Bible readings assigned recall Jesus’ role as the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Jesus came to search for and recover lost sheep. Jesus laid down his life to protect the sheep. Jesus, by his death and resurrection, opened the gate of God’s pasture for the sheep. Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus made told Peter that loving God required him, requires us, to tend and care for the sheep. Pope Francis called clergy shepherds and said faithful clergy smelled like sheep.