“Good Shepherd Sunday”
Commitment Sunday for the Annual Catholic Appeal
In biblical times in the Holy Land, it was common for the shepherd to live with the sheep. The shepherd would lead his sheep to good grazing and water. At night, the animals were led to a safe enclosure, often made of stone or brambles. The shepherd would stand at the opening of the enclosure as the sheep entered, checking for any injured or missing sheep.
Once all were in the safety of the pen, the shepherd would lay down in the opening literally becoming the gate and the protector of the sheep. He was there to protect them from the wolves that would come in the night to snatch one away. The shepherd was their guardian, watching and caring for them, providing for their needs.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In the gospel today, Jesus adds a new characteristic to the image of a shepherd, “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is contrasted with the thief who comes to kill or destroy and the hired hand that runs away when danger comes. Jesus is like the shepherd who owned and cared for his sheep.
Jesus says; “I know my own, and my own know me.” Familiarity, intimacy, and care are characteristics of the relationship, not like the thief who comes to kill or destroy. The thief takes the life of the sheep. The Good Shepherd gives life on their behalf.
Later in the gospel, Jesus identifies such self-sacrifice as the greatest love that can be shown to others. He then embodies this characteristic of the Good Shepherd as he gives his life on the cross.
What does all this mean for us? Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who cares and loves his sheep, yes-you and me, is calling us to be like him, to shepherd to one another. Must we lay down our lives to do so? Must we physically die? No! Jesus is asking us to die to our old ways, the ways of this world.
In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard about Peter and John, held for questioning for proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Peter and John came to the defense of Jesus and made sure that those questioning them heard that they were responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion and that Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built on.
Imagine if Peter and John were preoccupied with life’s luxuries. Would they have had the wisdom and strength to defend all that was good? Probably not! They left their old ways behind to follow Jesus and to learn from him, the Good Shepherd, so that they could shepherd to others in Jesus’ name.
We need to die to our old ways of greed and envy. We need to die to our pursuit of material possessions that lead us to look the other way when we hear the cry of the poor. We need to die to a pursuit of stature and position that manipulates others. We need to die to our old ways so that we make room to live for and in God’s love. We must die to sin.
That means leaving behind our selfish ways and our need to hold on to things. We cannot be shepherds of God’s love if these things get in our way to the point that we do not share the blessings God has given us.
When I was very young, I had this favorite toy, a stuffed dog that I named Weiner Dog. It was a dachshund. I really loved this toy dog so much, that it almost seemed alive. In no way would I share this stuffed dog with my brothers or sisters or even my friends. It was mine and mine alone.
Did you have a favorite toy, one that gave you a lot of joy and happiness when you played with it? Did you have a toy like the one I had when you were young? You did not deny your brother, sister or friend that same joy and happiness playing with that toy, did you? I hope not. I remember how I felt when I would not let anyone play with mine, not very good!
As adults we run into the same trap as I did when I was young, the same selfish way with our possessions: that new LCD HD TV with 1080 resolution, that cell phone with the screen where you see the person you’re talking with, or it could be something as simple as a family recipe.
In order to be shepherds to one another, we need to leave behind our selfish ways. How can love abide in us if we have the world’s goods and see a brother or sister in need, and yet refuse them help?
How can we be shepherds of this love from God?
Yes, we are called as followers of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to shepherd to one another. We can shepherd by visiting the sick, volunteering at our Good Cheer food bank or volunteering for the Red Flyer Reading Program which helps children learn to read. Maybe volunteering at senior services is what you like or volunteering for Hearts and Hammers, which was held this Saturday.
We shepherd by protecting the life of the unborn and speaking out against those who do not dignify life with acts of social injustice.
We contribute to charities that feed starving children abroad and charities that provide those who are in need of life’s basic necessities.
This weekend is also Commitment Sunday for the Annual Catholic Appeal. With our contributions, we can be shepherds to those who are studying to become priests or deacons. Without your past contributions, I might not be standing up here today as your deacon. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The Annual Catholic Appeal supports programs for the youth of our Archdiocese as well as Catholic schools and the medical and pension plans for our priests. You can see that by contributing to the Appeal we all can be shepherds in our Church in Western Washington.
I hope you took time this past week to consider through prayer your contribution, as Father Rick suggested last Sunday. Our goal this year is $41,266.00. Just imagine what lives you can touch by your generosity.
Through our faith, we are called to be Jesus in a world that so drastically needs him. Are we to run and hide like the hireling, when times get tough or will we protect the life and dignity of those around us? The choice is ours.
My sisters and brothers, every time we come to this sacrificial table to receive Jesus, we bring ourselves, with all our faults, with all our imperfections to offer ourselves to God. We receive Jesus to gain the strength to be the shepherds in this world. This is our mission in a world that needs God’s love and care and we will respond making the right choice.
This is our challenge and our mission and we take on this mission every time we hear the priest or deacon say; “The mass has ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord,” and we respond in a loud voice; “Thanks be to God.”