Sheep or a Cross - 4th Sunday of Easter

I remember my high school and early college years back in the good old days of the 1960’s and 70’s: Vietnam and Watergate. Not a pretty picture. Well, I guess I was among the counter-cultural since none of that touched my life personally. What I do remember are my Latin classes, strange as that may sound in context. By the time I was in high school my attraction to the priesthood was rather strong so I thought Latin may be of some assistance. Besides, it was a required course so I made the best of it.

We began with the basics and by the end of my brief love affair with the ancient language, we were reciting Virgil’s Aeneid. It all began with the first Latin phrase I remember: “Maria habuit parvum agnum,” which not so loosely translated means, “Mary had a little lamb.” Now, how’s that for inspiration. That often quoted nursery rhyme actually is a religious statement. The origin of that phrase is a reference to the Virgin Mary who indeed had a little Lamb of God named Jesus. His fleece was pure and “white as snow.” Every where that Mary went, her lamb was sure to go. So on and so forth which leads me to comment on this 4th Sunday of Easter, typically referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is hardly about children’s stories but rather about the little lamb who is now the glorified and risen Savior – the Good Shepherd who, as John beautifully tells us in Sunday’s Gospel, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me . . .” (John 10: 27-30). This is now the Lamb of God who no longer follows but now leads us to follow him on the way of salvation.

For the early Christians, who we romantically place in the dark tunnels of the catacombs outside the city of Rome, the image of the Good Shepherd was familiar. Archeologists have found frescos of a Shepherd painted on the walls of the catacombs. To those first century followers of Christ it was a far less shocking image than Jesus dying in grotesque agony on a cross. They well knew the horror of crucifixion for it was still practiced by blood thirsty, crazed Roman Emperors such as Nero who blamed the famed fire of Rome on the Christians. Jesus the Shepherd was comfortable, compassionate, gentle, protective and affirming. Later, when crucifixion was banned as capital punishment and ultimately when Constantine proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, the cross became a sign of victory. The original Hebrew language was eventually replaced by both Latin and Greek, the language of the Gentile world. In a way, I’m grateful the cross replaced the sheep. Could you imagine a bronze sheep standing on the top of our Church steeples? But, that cross was never eliminated from the heart of Christians and early missionaries of the Gospel were willing to pay the price. Among them, Paul and Barnabas.

Our first reading from Acts 13: 43-52 offers a telling commentary on the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. They gather with their own kind, the Jewish community in Antioch, where the direction of their ministry changes abruptly. Among a spellbound crowd, they boldly preach the good news where, “. . . the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord . . .” You can imagine the reaction of the entrenched leadership of the city who, “. . . with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.” What to do – run away in fear? Apologize for causing such a disruption? Backtrack and try to explain your arguments? Paul and Barnabas, “spoke out boldly. . . .” The power of the Holy Spirit transformed them into fearless preachers.

Then, the tide turned and a new direction began for Christianity. Paul said, “. . . we now turn to the Gentiles.” How did a Jewish movement become so thoroughly non-Jewish? In a sense we see how – through the Spirit’s power and God willing it. But for us the real question may be why? Has the Good Shepherd turned his back on the Jews and now found other sheep more receptive to his voice? We must be very cautious here and recognize somewhat of a bias, even in the scriptures.

I think the main point we see in this work of the Holy Spirit is not that God has condemned the Jewish people, for they are among his chosen. But rather, that it was always his intention that Jesus be for the many and not for the few. The many, of course, is a broad and inclusive term. But, like Paul and Barnabas and countless others beyond them up to this time, we continue to need those who feel moved to carry the voice of the Shepherd to a world that hungers for truth.

This Sunday, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, is a day to pray earnestly for vocations to priesthood and religious life; for more to lead after the example of the divine Shepherd. The scandal in the Church today and the court of public opinion where the media has insisted it be played out, might lead one to ask, “Why would anyone join the priesthood?” Well, if you believe everything you hear and never question its truthfulness, I would wonder myself. But, the voice of the Shepherd continues to call. This is a time of reform in the Church and like the days following the Council of Trent, which dealt with scandal and dysfunction far more serious than what we see today, the Church continues to need good models of the Good Shepherd.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate released results of its annual survey on ordinands for 2010. Here in the Archdiocese of Portland, we had seven men ordained last year and four more this June. The Shepherd continues to call and men, knowing fully the requirements and expectations of a priest today, still step forward. The CARA research showed more detail about who is being ordained priests this year and among them are the following: average age of those being ordained is 33 (younger than in recent times); 78% were encouraged by a priest to enter the seminary but 50% were discouraged by their parents or other family members from considering the seminary. While some parents would be very supportive of their son entering the priesthood, too many are not. I think many folks are ignorant of what a priest does and the quality of life and fulfillment that the priesthood offers. When one serves the Lord it is often greatly misunderstood.

The present day climate in regards to how priests are portrayed in the secular world, which too often simply doesn’t get it, has been confusing at the least. In the end, I think it is we priests who will have to reform the priesthood as still credible and necessary for our Catholic life in our modern day world. I have reason to hope. So, for that alone, we need to pray and work.

God is indeed a good and protective God. He is our Shepherd and will never leave us abandoned. Listen to his voice and follow his call – fear not.