The Good Shepherd and Brahmacharya – Non-Excess

Last year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter I began a conversation about the Good Shepherd.  This conversation continues this year and every year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter which is always Good Shepherd Sunday:

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; * I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures * and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul * and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; * for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; * you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I John 3:16-24

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

John 10:11-19

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

 

Shepherds were often thought to be a metaphor for God or King.  But not a King of oppression. Instead, a king of love and liberty. “Jesus is talking about wise kingship, caring kingship, a king that looks like an ordinary shepherd and how that king goes about his work.” -Fr. John Herring

But if we extend this idea a little bit more then perhaps we all are called to love one another and that liberty is served for the entire earthly family. As stated in 1John, “How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”  There is a vast inequity in our economic system that leaves many with nothing and a few with much more than they could ever need. Taking care of a brother or sister in need is the job of all of us, it is our duty to follow the example of the Good Shepherd. This is the yoga Yama (restraint) of Brahmacharya or Non-excess. Deborah Adele writes, “Why do we move past the place of enough into excess? Yogic thought tells us it is because our mind begins to connect certain foods or activities. There is a difference between say the body’s need to satisfy thirst and the extravagant things the mind does with this simple desire. A desire that could easily be fulfilled with a glass of water somehow, in our mind’s convoluted way, gets hooked up with memories and conditioning tied to emotional satisfaction or emotional disturbance.” We all struggle with non-excess, we all have our addictions: from the very rich to the addict to the homeless to the abuser and everyone else. We all could strive to do better.  By the grace of the Good Shepherd, I continue to try.

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. -BCP

 

Fr. John Herring Sermon 4/25/21

BCP – Book of Common Prayer

Adele, D. – The Yamas and Niyamas – Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice

Picture from: https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/582934745496972361/

 

Taking up the Cross

  

Mark 8:31-38

Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Taking up our own individual crosses is very unique for each person.   A few years ago I did not fully understand this. I felt a strong Christian call and went through a process of first personal discernment, and then public discernment within my home parish.  The end result was clarity about my call, but it was not to clergy. It was a call to continue my work as a Yoga Therapist.

This call, on first blush, doesn't sound very Christian.  However, when I look at the work I do, have done, it actually is Christian. My call, in very specific terms, is not just to Yoga Therapy, it is to Integrative Health in a rural community.  I have sacrificed thousands of dollars in income I could have made establishing myself in a nearby larger city. I have put the health of my beloved city, Rome, Georgia above my own gain. This is my cross.

I work in an often misunderstood field. Many think I simply lead yoga classes, which I do do, but the truth is I do so much more. I have at least 1800 hours more training than an entry level yoga teacher, including an Accredited Master’s Degree in Yoga Therapy. I have lead classes for individuals that have a common issue. Right now, mainly yoga classes for the aging and those with behavioral health issues, secondarily yoga classes for young adults transitioning into full adult life. I have worked with particular disease groups such as Breast Cancer, Parkinson's Disease, Arthritis, and Alzheimer's Disease. I have worked with those at the end of life. I have worked to help Families in my town understand the Integrative Health options available to them. I have done this as a volunteer, as a paid employee, and as a consultant. I have supported and promoted other forms of Integrative Health serving on a committee at a local hospital to promote this, and starting an Integrative practice with those working in other modalities.  I have taught yoga at my church and still teach at a Catholic Charity.  I started a non-profit that provided yoga by donation to the citizens of my town. I'm not sure how I could find the time to add clergy to this list. And that is okay.

My work is Christian. My self-study, Svadhyaya, through my work, and surrender, Ishvara Pranidhana, of my work to a higher power is  completely based in a Christian philosophy for living, as well as the Yoga 10 Commandments,  the Yamas and Niyamas, of which self-study and surrender are a part. I take up my cross with love, and I lift it high.

"And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen."  -BCP Post Communion Prayer

Episcopal Hymn 643 Lyrics to "Lift High The Cross" the hymn of the Order of the Daughters of the King, of which I am a fourth generation member:

Refrain.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.

1. Come, Christians, follow where the Master trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.
   refrain
2. Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
   refrain
3. Each newborn servant of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died.
   refrain
4. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
your death has brought us life eternally.
   refrain
5. So shall our song of triumph ever be:
praise to the Crucified for victory!
   refrain

 

Photo in public domain by Petr Kratochvil