This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, the feast day which reminds us Jesus is now--actively, presently--leading, feeding, and protecting His people. It's a particularly resonant day for us to hold a healing service.

How does a shepherd respond when seeing a wounded lamb? A shepherd doesn't leave one of his own to suffer; he heals them. Indeed, a good shepherd stoops down, gently takes the lamb in his arms, and applies aid.

Jesus is just such a shepherd. He has the ability, desire, and intent to heal each and every one of his wounded sheep. And he will do it, fully and finally, in Heaven. But even today, the Good Shepherd brings tastes and glimpses of that final restoration to the here and now.

Christian hymnody has a rich history of reflecting on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. My favorite in that category is The King of Love My Shepherd Is. While the title sounds like it was written by Yoda, it was in fact written by the 19th century Anglican priest Henry Williams Baker. One line in particular reflects on the "not yet" of heaven entering the "already" of human experience:

"Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth, And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth."

This Sunday, Jesus will feed us with "food celestial" as we come to our Good Shepherd in need. If you've been to one of our healing services before, you know the format. There is no glitz and glamour, only simple prayers for those suffering particular ailments. Whatever your place of wounding, I pray you join us on Sunday as we drink from the still waters and graze in the green fields of our Good Shepherd. He stands ready to heal!