Whoever enters though me will be saved
John 10: 1-10
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042626.cfm
Our readings this Sunday of Easter are often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. They 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. We hear his voice, we recognize his supreme authority, and we follow his voice. 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 of pure love which takes away all fear.
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 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 not spoken with threat but spoken
with love. However, Jesus' image of shepherds is more than just a sentimental
comfort. We need to understand this on a
broad scale.
Those who were “shepherds,” of Israel as religious leaders and Kings were painfully weak and compromising. Their leadership was at times scandalous for they did not lead the people according to God’s Law. Originally, God gave in to the persuasion of Samuel that he allow Israel to have an earthly ruler, a King, but with a significant warning about their inherent weakness in leading the people and staying faithful to the original Covenant established with God and Moses.
King Zedekiah, the
last King of Israel, was forced into position as a series of previous King’s
had made bad decisions both spiritually and politically. Jerusalem and the
Temple were destroyed by the Babylonian’s during his reign.
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 very 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. Overall, they were not good but rather failed and bad shepherds.
Comparing himself to
these shepherds of earlier Jewish experience, Jesus contrasts himself in the
Gospel with these bad shepherds: “All who came before me are thieves and
robbers . . . “ 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 in our first
readings from Acts proclaims to the crowds who eagerly desired to be baptized
and forgiven of sin: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins . . .” The result was phenomenal
as three thousand were baptized that day through the power of the Holy Spirit
and Peter’s persuasiveness.
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. As the “gate” of the sheepfold, we enter and leave through
Christ alone for he wills our good out of love and sacrifice. This is a living 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.
Most importantly, is
isn’t just faith in Jesus that we need as if all was possible through our own
power. The point is that little is
possible compared to what Christ brings us in the Church. The sheep are us in the community of the
Church where Christ leads us and is present to us in our sacramental life, the
power of his Word, the leaders of the Church (granted some have not been the
best examples) but many have been indeed.
It is only in the Body of Christ that we come to know the Lord Jesus and
experience the support of his grace.
The Eucharist in
particular, when we gather as the flock, is that moment when the shepherd
becomes present to speak to us and to feed us, with himself. Here we find safety and the deposit of truth
lest we go astray as wandering sheep. Our life in Christ that we share as his
beloved sons and daughters supports us and directs in the way God has
shown. Do we hear his voice in the
Church or have we deafened ourselves through sin or self-centered choices.
So, this Sunday we take hope in this beautiful image of Jesus our Good Shepherd. We pray 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. That married couples will recognize their vocation to holiness and generously share that in their family. He is the risen Christ, the way, truth and life, the living bread, the Word of God among us, and the noble shepherd.
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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.
(Opening Prayer of Mass)
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