Just as Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end,” at the close of every liturgical year, we look forward with a renewed hope in Christ’s coming again in glory to reign as Lord forever. In the same way, we look forward to our own resurrection and the time of a new earth — an earth that is no longer broken by sin and groaning. Christ will come again in glory just as surely as He came the first time — when He was born. So we have “transition” at the end of the “long green season” into the Advent season, the new beginning of the liturgical year.

Jesus, who called his disciples, now sends them on their first mission trip, to tell that the kingdom of God is at hand. Is that threatening language from Jesus a clue that we better shape up, or is it a promise of hope for all those who feel like a sheep without a shepherd?

For all those whose hearts have been hurt, to those who have been thrown away and told you don’t belong here, we see that Jesus comes into the midst of them to change and heal hearts.

Whether we are as dense as Derek Zoolander or as smart as Stephen Hawking, we can all have the same problem: a lack of being curious and a neglect of learning the voice of the Good Shepherd. But as we engage the voice, we will find our actions and activities will sound like the Good Shepherd.

Stewardship is a process of growing in your head, heart, and hands. Following Jesus helps us learn how to be a disciple in all parts of our life.