Proper 6

A popular expression in our culture expresses exasperation in the face of trying to govern other people’s behavior, particularly those with very individual preferences, goals, agendas, and initiatives, who have no interest in being governed. Throwing their hands up in frustration, leaders trying to command such individuals into a group with a common goal may exclaim:

“Trying to work with this group is like herding cats!”

What does the phrase mean? It reflects on the “independent” nature of cats (often in comparison to dogs, who tend to behave more amicably and obediently).

Anyone here a cat owner? If so, you know that cats cannot be coerced. It goes inherently against their nature. The more you try to coerce a cat, the more it will resist and demand to go its own way. You can try to entice it, lure it, or connect with it on an emotional level, but you likely won’t succeed in trying to command it. Now try to get 10 of these sweet, furry, independently minded creatures to serve a common interest!

Not likely to happen!

But put out 10 food bowls, and you won’t have to say a thing. Their supersonic hearing will already have switched on the desire button in their brains, and they will appear together immediately and at once, all sweet and eager, ready to eat.

Now cats are not the only creatures with minds of their own. Parents, you know the challenge of getting your kid to brush her teeth or your teenager to clean his room. If the desire and motivation isn’t there, no amount of coercion will turn their heads to the benefits of either brushing or cleaning!

How do you deal with these kinds of parenting issues? You entice, you invite, you present, you explain. You show the benefits of doing that activity. You build a relationship with them, in which they trust you and believe you. And then you give it a shot! It may happen. Or it may not. And sometimes, when it doesn’t, there’s a time when you just have to let it go.

I remember when I was a kid and my mother tried to get me to eat green vegetables. No matter how much encouraging, cajoling, enticing, or nudging my mom would do, I “would not, could not” eat those peas, lettuce, or broccoli! Finally, she gave up trying. Sometimes, you just have to let it go.

Now these instances are concerning one person in regard to one desired task. Imagine trying to get 8 to 20 of those children with their own ideas, preferences, and minds of their own, to engage in a common goal.

Well, that’s the goal of every teacher – and every parent, when they have more than one child. It’s also the challenge of those in businesses, groups, and yes, churches, when dealing with very different people with different personalities, interests, ideas, and proposed goals.

How do you “get” a group to go in the way of the company’s or family’s (or church’s) mission?

Some might say, it’s like “herding cats!”

Hint: It’s not about coercion. It’s not about control. It’s not about winning approval. It’s not about forcing an outcome. When people are running in different directions with different motivations and different intentions, it does no good to try to command them into a common direction. It will be futile to try to control this outcome. When you try to attempt this difficult, impossible task of “herding cats,” you’ll become easily frustrated and spend more time trying to herd (and lead) people than in leading the project or mission itself. As writer B. Fournet says, “Nobody ‘owns’ a cat!”

So how do you engage people together in mission and encourage them in a common direction? Well, Jesus addresses just this in today’s Gospel. He helps his apostles understand how to guide or “shep-herd” people with little or no knowledge of Christ and his new “way” to be baptized in his name and to form communities of faith in which they would serve and honor each other, live with a common goal, and operate out of a brand-new ethic and identity. Think about this for a moment. This is a pretty tall order!

Jesus is about to send out his twelve apostles to do just this. Here is what he told them. He infused them first with power to do the job. Then, he gave them the following advice:

“As you go, proclaim the good news. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Give without payment. Take nothing with you but be at the mercy of those you seek to build a relationship with. In every town or village, stay with someone. If that person welcomes you and your message, bless it. If they don’t, “shake off the dust from your feet,” as you leave, and move on.”

Then he goes on to say (paraphrased here): “this is a dangerous mission. Many people are going to hate you! But don’t worry! You’ll be amply rewarded in the end for delivering this important message!”

What Jesus is telling them is that they cannot “herd cats” by trying to control them, order them, or command them. They must instead “feed” them. They must instead build relationships, build trust, take nothing, but give people the “food” they need: healing, raising, curing, proclaiming.

“Herald, Help, and Heal!” Not “Herd, Hate, or Handle.”

No one with their own mind, ideas, thoughts, and goals wants to be herded or controlled blindly. They certainly won’t budge if presented with hate. And no one wants to be “handled!” This objectifies people. It treats them as commodities, as mere pawns to another person’s goal.

But if you want to truly present someone with a better way – then herald them, help them, and heal them. Tell them the “good news” that could make their lives better and more peaceful and more beautiful. Help them in their daily lives and build relationships of trust and true caring. The Good Shepherd does not pretend to love the sheep. The Good Shepherd truly DOES love the sheep! Finally, heal them. Change their lives in real and tangible ways.

When Jesus traveled during his life and ministry throughout all regions of the Jewish and Gentile world at that time in search of “lost sheep,” he never commanded.  Think about it. He never attempted to coerce people into thinking the way he did. What did he do?

Primarily, he healed.  Everywhere he went. He healed, he raised, and he pointed to the majesty of God. His message spoke for itself. And spoke for the power and presence of God. He provided the “food.” And the people came. They believed. They converted. They praised God. They changed heart.

This is the message that he needs to get across to his disciples. You can try to “herd cats” all you want, but you’ll never build a kingdom that way, he instructed. Instead, proclaim my message, heal and raise the dead, cast out demons. Some will listen. Some won’t. Do not try to control the outcomes. Just do your thing and then walk away. God will take care of the rest.

Jesus’ message then (his evangelistic method if you will) works the same today as it did those years ago. We live in a divisive culture. As always through the ages, people will think independently, will have their own ideas, their own religions, their own beliefs, and their own goals and agendas.

You will never succeed in “convincing” them of your way, the church’s way, Jesus’ way, or a common way. That’s because Jesus’ message is not about convincing but about convicting–through demonstration, through gifts of healing and wholeness, through life-changing assistance, through relationships built on trust, and non-judgmental empathy and understanding.

Jesus’ message (God’s message) for humankind has never been about control, but about redemption. Never about force but about free will. In Jesus’ sacrifice, he offered us a better way – a way of peace, love, salvation, and a kingdom collaborative spirit. He showed us what that looked like through his actions, his humility, his healings, and his sacrificial love.

This is the way to shepherd God’s people. This is the way to be Jesus’ disciples and apostles.

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. May all of our fathers demonstrate the peace and understanding of human nature as our heavenly Father today and going forward.

Build relationships with your children. Teach them the way of Jesus by living that way in your life. Share with them your faults and mistakes and tell them how God has gifted you with grace, love, understanding, and the ability to forge a new way. Listen to them, heal them, pick them up when they fall, and guide them. Most of all, feed them with all of the love you can give. They will always respond to love. May God bless you in your mission – to your family, to your church, to your community, to your world.