4th Sunday of Easter: The good and noble shepherd

"I am the gate for the sheep"

John 10: 1 - 10

The Word: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050320.cfm


Almighty ever-living God
lead us to a 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) 

It seems near impossible these days of isolation that one would be hard pressed to avoid the topic of this pandemic.  It seems everything we do is determined by how far we stand apart, how healthy we are, what age group we belong in, how many people are in any location we find ourselves, whether our face is covered or not and all the scientific overload of data that determines such things as how far our breath carries germs to another, etc.

We are asked to trust the experts and to respond to their calculations, however confusing and inconsistent.  One expert says one thing and another something else. So, we live in uncertain times but there is hope and there are signs of a careful and reasonable relaxing over time. And of course varied opinions about how far is too far. It leads one to greater fear and anxiety living with the unknown and a question of who can be trusted. 

This Sunday’s readings on this traditional Good Shepherd Sunday, however, do give us the assurance of faith that no matter how confused life may seem at times, we have one in which to ultimately trust that his intent is always for our good. Jesus our Shepherd cares for his flock and if we follow his voice we will never go astray. If the definition of love is to will the good of another, then this Shepherd and his will towards us is one to rest in.  

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 of 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.

In this image our Lord uses a well known part of daily life, that of sheep.  Shepherding was a common way of existence and support.  The sheepfold Jesus speaks of was a common stone walled area in which sheep were kept for safety at night.  A gate was closed and gate keeper maintained the spot assuring safety for the sheep until the shepherd calls them out with his unique and individual call.  The sheep follow and on the day goes.  No shepherd of any value would ever endanger his sheep for this was his own livelihood.

Jesus refers to himself as both the gate through which sheep enter to safety and the shepherd who leads his sheep to safety.  This image is both a common one that the Pharisees fail to grasp but also a profound assurance that God sent his Son to humanity as a sign of his love for us and as a secure covenant that if we live in Christ we will find life and “have it more abundantly” in union with our Shepherd. 

The contrast with the Jewish experience is even more telling. While shepherds were well known to the ancient Jews and 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.  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 lead 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. They did not lead the people to remain faithful to the Covenant given through Moses but rather led them astray by mixing with surrounding pagan cultures and seeking wealth and power over service.

Comparing himself to these shepherds of earlier Jewish experience, he contrasts himself as 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 or worldly power and fame 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, and has done so on the cross,  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 . . ."  

As Peter proclaims to the crowds who eagerly desired to be baptized and forgiven of sin in our first reading from Acts: “For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off . . .”

Even more, Jesus 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.

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.

So as we journey through Easter our attention turns from the resurrection appearances to the coming of the Holy Spirit and how Christ remains present to us in and through his Church.

Even in this time of separation which will gradually come to healing and wholeness can you still hear the shepherd’s voice?  In spite of our own flawed humanity we not only deserve but should expect that our shepherds, those in Church leadership and the secular world, should have the best of intentions for those they serve.  While that is not always true as we well know, we find our faith in Christ Jesus as a refuge and comfort. 

So, this Sunday we take hope in this beautiful image of Jesus our Good Shepherd.  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.  other voices have been calling to us that may clearly lead us in aligning ourselves with the Gospel values and way of life as given by Christ.

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.