Apr 21, 2018

4th Sunday of Easter: "The Noble Shepherd"




"I know my sheep and mine know me"


John 10: 11-18 

I distinctly remember one event during later grade school years when my brothers and I had a disagreement one evening during dinner.  As siblings often do we must have gotten into something that caused my Father to do what parents sometimes need to do in order to get their children’s attention: they lay down the law! 

All a young child needs is one word, one look from Mom, one reminder that will immediately make them stop.  So, my Dad stood up and began to loosen his belt while looking at his boys sternly.  It was obvious what his intent was, or so we thought, and he immediately got our attention – we stopped the fighting.  Then, he quietly sat down. My parents never punished us in this way but the possibility was always there.  Whatever the argument was about I don’t remember but the fact that I still remember it made a lifelong impression. 

Some may feel this was a bit overboard yet we knew, even though we may not have said explicitly, that my parents both loved us and cared for our welfare.  That greater good was obvious in so many other ways. Their word had authority and their actions showed us that they always had the greater good in mind.

Today’s readings and beautiful theme on this Easter season Sunday present an image of goodness to us.  Jesus refers to himself as “the good shepherd,” a very familiar Christian image.  I don't think there is any image more ancient and beloved throughout the Christian world than that of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It was favored during the early Christian era, as depicted on the walls in the catacombs outside Rome and is certainly one of my favorites as well.  There is nothing fierce, disturbing, threatening or judgmental about this image. This is a shepherd whose word alone bears authority but it is not spoken with threat but spoken with love.

Shepherds were well known to the ancient Jews, they were a common, though very lowly part of society.  In fact the Kings of Israel were referred to as shepherds and everyone knew that was an image of leadership.  Yet, their experience of earthly Kings, with the exception of King David who was himself flawed as we all are, was one of poor leadership.  David's son Saul began with the best of intentions after the example of his own father yet eventually things went sour. Good leadership demanded these kings led by good example themselves, holding to the truth, not compromising the law of God given to them, resisting a mix with other false gods, and truly caring for the people acknowledging God as the one true King of Israel.

Shepherds were considered low life. They begged when entering town, they lived outside the city, and they certainly smelled like their flocks, like the sheep.  Not at all what Pope Francis meant when he coined his famous "smell like your sheep," when referring to the ministry of priests.  Yet, sheep were needed for Temple worship and certainly for food so for Jesus to use a shepherd image was not unusual.

But, as with all he spoke, it was packed with powerful meaning.  "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep . . . I know mine and mine know me . . . I will lay down my life for the sheep . . .”

In fact, Jesus repeats five times in the Gospel passage that he lays down his life for his sheep.  He does so voluntarily of his own will.  Our Lord is a shepherd who cares not about financial profit but about the lives of every single sheep in the flock - he cares about you and he cares about me.  He will sacrifice his own life for our sake and he will even care for others:  "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold "(Gentiles?).”These also I must lead . . ."  

This is a God who has come to make himself approachable; a God who takes away fear and replaces it with love - a love beyond our expectation or certainly beyond what we deserve or are worthy of. So it certainly emphasizes, by his word alone, that this shepherd is one of trust and one we can courageously follow without fear.

But, even more, this Good Shepherd is beyond our limited understanding of good. We think "good" is something marked by acceptable behavior, by doing nice things for others, by respecting others interests and by following the rules.  It often goes back to the time our parents said things such as: "Have you been good today?”  Or when we feel that good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished.

Even more, Jesus implies something more profound.  He implies that he is the "noble" shepherd.  He lays down his life for the sheep in the face of fierce danger (the wolf comes).  Jesus has resisted the temptation to compromise and for our sake, in a noble and courageous way, followed his Father's will to the end.  Even the cross, despite its horror, became a noble throne for the King Shepherd.  He is far more than good - He is noble: honorable, self-sacrificing, moral, decent, kind.

As shepherd he calls each of us to certain integrity as Christian men and women.  We too are to see this shepherd as a model for our lives and the way in which we should live them.  This shepherd leads us by example and invites us to trust in his way.

So, this Sunday approaches, take some time and reflect on this beautiful image.  We pray in particular this weekend for leaders of our faith and in particular that more young men and women will hear the call to service in the Church – to ordained ministry and to consecrated life as women religious.  Yet, the shepherd call is for all of us so do we hear it?  What other voices have been calling to us that may clearly lead us in another way? We live in a very noisy culture these days and it’s often hard to listen. 

Trust this shepherd.  He is the risen Christ, the way, truth and life, the living bread, the Word of God among us, and the noble shepherd. As he lays down his life for us we can be assured that if we follow his example, he will lead us ultimately to life beyond this one - to far greener pastures indeed. 

Almighty ever-living God,
lead us to share in the joys of heaven, 
so that the humble flock may reach
where the brave Shepherd has gone before. 
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever. 

(Collect of Mass)

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