The readings during the Easter Season continue to paint for us images and understandings of the early Christian Church. They proclaim the basic teaching of the early Apostles –“all who desire salvation must repent and be baptized.” The cornerstone of our redemption and salvation is Jesus Christ. Baptism is our immersion into Christ’s mission of this world’s recovery by bringing the Good News to all people.
This Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday and the Gospel is always taken from the 10th chapter of John where Jesus speaks of himself as the “good shepherd.” In today’s passage Jesus emphasizes three insights: (1) self-sacrifice- the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep; (2)the mutual bond of love and intimacy- the shepherd knows his sheep and they know him; and (3)evangelization- the good shepherd deeply desires that many other sheep should come to identify themselves with him.
If we are faithful to our baptism; if we are disciples of Jesus; if we live the Good News, there will be self-sacrifice and even suffering. No one escapes suffering in this life. We strive to relieve it, we do all we can do to minimize it, and there may be times when we resent it bitterly. But, self-sacrifice and suffering can also be an occasion of grace for us.
If we truly believe in the paschal mystery, then self-sacrifice and suffering (whether it be our personal pain of loss, or witnessing injustice), these experiences can and will result in new life and new vitality and new hope. I believe this firmly. This has been my lived experience.
But, for us to have the faith to believe that self-sacrifice and suffering can be an occasion of grace, we must first have a deep sense of the presence of Jesus in our lives. We must know Jesus Christ and he must know us! A mutual bond of love and intimacy is essential. And, today’s readings help us more fully understand that relationship to Jesus.
The Good Shepherd, is one of the abiding pictures of Christ in the Christian imagination. Words like “pastor” and “pastoral care” draw their meaning from the image of Jesus as the kind and caring guide of the flock. Many times Jesus prayed the psalm “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” During Jesus’ time, shepherds protected their flocks with their own bodies. A sheep pen was merely a wall of loosely stacked rocks with a small entrance. At night the shepherd slept across the entrance so that his body became a protection for the sheep.
Jesus is that perfect model of the good shepherd. He is the gate by which we enter the fold of the faithful. And, we rely on the Lord to protect us in times of crisis that we will inevitably have to face throughout life. During the Easter Season we are reminded again of the conversion experiences of those who heard the Scripture readings and who received the bread and wine of life. Without Christ and without the paschal mystery we will flounder through life. With Christ, we can get through the storms and chaos. Life is too difficult to attempt to make it alone. We need direction. We need Jesus Christ in our lives. That’s why we pray each day; come to church each week; and why we receive the Eucharist. His is the strength that gives meaning, purpose and direction to our lives. It is a bond that brings joy, hope, mercy and forgiveness, if we only open ourselves to the shepherd’s love.
So, as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, we also celebrate the continuing shepherding accomplished in the Church in the name of Jesus and guided by Pope Francis, our shepherd. Just as the sheep need a good shepherd, so our church today needs men and women committed to providing for God’s people as clergy and as religious. And, the Church needs an engaged, committed laity at all levels of the Church structure. If we are to evangelize the world, if we are to walk with those who have fallen away from the Church or have never experienced the Good News of the Gospels, then it is our baptismal responsibility to reach out to them and all those in need—the poor and the marginalized.
We thank God for those who are in ordained ministry and consecrated life who continue to offer their lives for the shepherding of the people of God. And, we are thankful for the many people, especially in this community, who share their time and talents in many ministries.
We are also aware of the great need the Church has today for many more shepherds—ordained and laity– to carry on Jesus’ mission of shepherding. So, today is not only the Fourth Sunday of Easter and Good Shepherd Sunday—it is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is important for us to seriously reflect on this need and ask ourselves “What are we to do?” (pause) Now, our tendency is to pray that OTHERS may answer the call. We often don’t see ourselves as being called—we have a very narrow meaning of the word “vocation.” We forget that each of us has a vocation. But, most of us see it as what we are doing now as spouses, parents, teachers, civil servants, grandparents…or whatever. Aren’t we limiting ourselves?
To some degree, we must change our selfish ways, but a great deal more is implied than changing behavior if we are to evangelize the world. There must be a conversion of heart, seeing more clearly what Jesus asks of us. This requires an honesty and humility that is not easily grasped—it truly takes a discernment of spirits, over a period of time. Again, this is why having a regular prayer life, coming to Mass regularly and seeing ourselves as shepherds and servants is so important. We need to ask the tough questions: Is what I am spending my energies on every day my real vocation? Is this what God wants me to be going with my life? How is what I am doing giving witness to my Christian faith? What contribution am I offering to make this world a better place for people to live in? To what extent am I a spreader of truth, of love, of justice, of freedom, of tolerance and acceptance? How is God calling me to greater service to my church and my community? Am I giving something through my life or am I just using society and even the Church to get what I want?
Once we open ourselves to the full realization of the immensity of God’s love, life begins anew. As we share at the table together, we move toward genuine conversion to see things in a new light and realize that God’s saving love is an utterly free gift to which we respond with great joy and hope—sharing ourselves for others, for the common good.
And with that knowledge, we can respond, “Here I am Lord” ready to be your servant, to be your disciple, to be your hands and feet, to put my time and talents at the service of the Lord—to be shepherds in this world that so desperately needs people who live the message of the Good News.
We need an abundance of Shepherds. Pray on it!