shearing

 

There is a fascinating account in the Acts of the Apostles of the faith journey of a gender-Queer Black African (Acts 8.26-40).

Philip is divinely directed to seek this person out and befriend them. They are reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah (they will ask Philip about the meaning of Isaiah 53.7-8) and they see something of their own life story reflected back at them there. Philip does not reject them but helps them to see that Jesus identified with them, and they can identify with Jesus (this they decide to do, as evidenced in their request to be baptised). They will become the parent-in-the-faith of all who follow Jesus in Africa, the rich tapestry of Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Pentecostals.

The verses that spoke to them from Isaiah are significant, not only at a personal level for this individual but in relation to how we ought to relate to anyone, and especially if we call Jesus our Lord. Here, the person denied justice is described as being like an ewe before her shearer. A shearer is not supposed to injure the sheep, let alone kill them. Shearers are supposed to remove the fleece, for the good of the sheep and for the benefit of people who can be clothed with garments made from the wool. This is a matter of animal husbandry, an annual event, familiar to the sheep. But the ewe is betrayed by her shearers, who instead butcher her.

In a similar way, Jesus is betrayed by the religious leaders of his people, by those who ought to have attended to his welfare and, through him, the good of others. Yet God will vindicate him.

The call of the family of God is to be a shepherd people, who attend to the welfare of humanity and who enable the gifts of every person to contribute to the good of all, meeting physical needs and paying attention to dignity.

When we fail to respond to anyone in this way, we are guilty of iniquity.

And yet Jesus the ewe has taken upon herself the iniquity of us all, so that we might be unburdened of its weight. Jesus the true ewe becomes Jesus the true shearer.

May we submit to his shearing, and receive all, as God (not only) receives (but also seeks) them.