“Secure in God’s Hands”Main point: Our being is held in an absolutely secure relationship with the one who created us.BLESSING THE CHILDRENTEXTJohn 10:22-30At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep.My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all else, and no one can snatch them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."SERMONIntroductionA special greeting goes out this morning to Mothers as we honor and remember all of those who have mothered us in our lives, but especially those particular women who gave birth to us. God’s richest blessings on you for the many ways you sacrifice and love us. We honor you. And for all of you out there who somehow missed the memo, today is Mother’s Day. You might want to take note.Today is also the Fourth Sunday of Eastertide on which we traditionally celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. We read Psalm 23 and look to Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. Shepherding, especially as it pertains to the way Jesus Shepherds us, is a word which describes a relationship. Jesus shepherds his sheep. They know his voice and they follow him.The portion of John 10 which we read in Year C offers strong words of comfort. Secure words. They show to us how utterly and absolutely secure Jesus’ sheep are in that shepherding relationship. The way that secure relationship is described is so profound we likely miss its significance with a cursory reading so I would like to read the last few lines of our gospel again. See if you can allow them to sink more deeply into your hearts. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.From the absolute security of this relationship between Jesus the Shepherd and us his sheep stems all manor of blessing for the Christian life. Courage to face adversity. Confidence in troubling circumstances. Generosity in times of scarcity. Because when one experiences the guarantee of security in the most foundational of our relationships we can say with St. Paul in his letter to the Romans, If God be for us, who can be against us?Addressing the Lies that Stem From Our BrokennessThis secure attachment to God in Christ which leads us to build healthy, fulfilling, and long-lasting relationships with others. It leads us to trust others more easily, communicate more effectively, and feel more comfortable with ourselves when no one else is around, and manage conflict in healthy ways. This is the promise of God. This is the good news of this Good Shepherd Sunday. This is the reality for our lives.But, in fact, there are voices which actively oppose the good news we hear in these verses. They wiggle their way in to disrupt our experience of the true security we have in the hands of Christ. These opposing voices could be described in two categories: 1) the voices in our own hearts and 2) the voices in the world around us. Part of the process to truly hear and experience the secure attachment we have in the hands of Christ is to name those opposing voices. So let’s name them this morning.

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