John 10: 11-18
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042124.cfm
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"I know mine, and mine know me"
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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,
God, for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
On a trip to Ireland and Scotland several years ago, I will never forget the numerous white little dots all over the hillsides of sheep grazing contentedly on rich green hills. Here and there you could spot shepherds among them. It seems the sheep population is in higher numbers than the human population on those Isles which are famous for wool sweaters and jackets.
The shepherds of those
flocks each have a distinctive sound they would make, a kind of click or whistle
in their voice that was singular for his particular flock. The sheep came to learn that sound and
whenever their shepherd would call to them, they would gather to join the
flock. If there was another shepherd
with a similar but different call, they would not go to him but only to the one
they recognized. No prodding or pain for the sheep, only the sound of safety
and caring leadership.
In our readings this Sunday we hear of sheep
and a shepherd. But it is meant to be an
image far more significant for our lives than some pastoral scene along a green
hillside in Ireland. Gentle, yet strong and matchless among all is the shepherd
we hear of today.
Our Sunday readings 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 pronounced with love. But this shepherd is not just a gentle
spirit we may see in a child’s bedroom.
Shepherds were well known to
the ancient Jews, they were a common, though a very lowly part of society. In fact, the Kings of Israel were referred to
as shepherds and everyone knew that was an image of authority. Yet, their experience of earthly Kings, apart
from King David who was himself flawed as we all are, was one of poor leadership
and in some cases outright sinful leadership through the mixture of pagan
worship with Jewish belief in only one true God.
For example, 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. Yet, overall, the “experiment”
with human kings for the Jews failed and God himself then, through the line of
the best of them King David, became the most perfect shepherd of all in Jesus
Christ and most perfect and good shepherd who truly cares for his flock.
"I am the good shepherd,”
we hear Jesus say today, “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 . .
.” There is a deeper more universal tone in that this shepherd, unlike all
others, will offer his life. This is a tone of self-sacrifice, of deep intimacy
with those he leads, and an expression of boundless love for the sheep. In
Jesus laying down his life for us on the cross and taking it up again in his
resurrection, he has forever bonded divinity and humanity together. This shepherd
is focused on care for the sheep and not only those in his flock but all those
who stray away and those who do not belong to the original fold (the chosen
people) but are now gathered into a flock much broader (Gentiles) so that there
will be one united flock and one caring shepherd. That flock is now called the Church. Look
around at the congregation some Sunday and we see such a diverse flock all
gathered to hear and be fed by the good shepherd king.
Five time in the Gospel this
Sunday, Jesus repeats 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 . . ."
Our first reading from Acts
of the Apostles, has Peter boldly filled with the Holy Spirit, confronting the
leaders of the people with the stark admission that this Jesus of Nazareth who
was crucified, is now risen and that a man now healed was done so through his
name; his name alone who alone brings salvation to all. That Jesus death and resurrection was the act
of salvation as divinity and humanity were forever joined in Christ and
therefore as God looks upon humanity, he sees the self-sacrificing shepherd,
the face of his Son. It is a powerful
and life-changing image for us all and a challenge to see the same in each
other.
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 shepherd leads us by
example and invites us to trust in his way.
So, we pray this weekend for
leaders of our church 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 and men religious. Yet,
the shepherd’s 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, stay in
the flock of the Church where you will encounter him. 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 voice, he
will lead us ultimately to life beyond this one - to far greener pastures
indeed than you may find in beautiful Ireland or Scotland!
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