My dear Sisters and Brothers: We are listening to the growth of the early church as told through the Acts of the Apostles. Our 1st reading for this liturgy is an address by Peter immediately after the recounting of the Pentecost experience. We do not hear his entire speech, but enough to know that his listeners are moved to ask a good question. Peter confronts them with the reality that the One they crucified is actually the Anointed, the Christ.
Their question seems to flow from a sense that they did not know this and now, “What are they supposed to do?” This conclusion is the same which ends most of Peter’s proclamations, “repent and be baptized.” He added that they had a chance right then to remove themselves from the corrupt generation which had resisted the preaching of Jesus, himself. And so, who is Jesus and what are we supposed to do? The gospel today answers this question.
I recently read a story from an unknown author that I thought brought into perspective this gospel today. I hope it moves you as much as it had moved me. It goes like this:
“Now I am going to veer off to do something a little different. I have to because these stories with the Good Shepherd are poetry for the soul, just as talking to you
about the quality of a certain cup of coffee will not help you experience the rich aroma and taste of the brew.
In order that you experience Jesus as our shepherd, the Good Shepherd, I am going to ask you to get your own cup of coffee so that you too can experience its rich taste. In other words, I am going to ask you to open yourselves to the possibility of experiencing your shepherd.
I am asking you to get comfortable right now, take a deep breath or two, actively engage your imagination to see yourself as one of Jesus’ flock of sheep. Today, this minute and for the next few, jump into the imagery of the Good Shepherd and his sheep.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.
Continue to imagine with me as we explore deeper the imagery found in John. As the last rays of the evening sun filter away, your shepherd gathers you into the sheepfold. In the safety of its strong wooden fences with your shepherd laying across the opening, making his body the gate, you feel safe from the shadows of the darkness that lurk just beyond. You settle down in the warmth of everyone else who has been gathered in.
Piercing slightly the silence of the night, a voice is heard. It is not the voice of your shepherd. That voice you know. It is another voice. The voice speaks smooth words which entice you toward the edge of the sheepfold. Someone is found sitting on the fence. What this shadow has to say is easy to understand. The words are clear and the directions given do not need to be thought about.
Sometimes your shepherd is not easy to understand. Sometimes you struggle to interpret his words. The clear words of the shadow ringing through the cold night air make you feel important. You take a deep breath of pride. The words make you feel smart. The words make you turn around and look at the other sheep as if they were pitiful little lambs who are lost. Of course you are not lost, you are important.
This thought, prompted by the smooth words of the stranger, do cause a slight discomfort though. The words seem too easy. The words cause your heart rate to go up. Even though the words of the stranger are perfectly clear and make sense, they are not the words of your shepherd. They are entrancing, but they are not familiar.
Suddenly, you hear your shepherds voice as it pierces your thoughts, and at once your heart rate calms. He calls to you, and you leave the stranger, going back to the comfort of all those warm bodies. Only Him will you follow. Though his words are sometimes confusing, at least they are the words of the one who knows you by name. He loves you, and you love him.
As sun breaks the seal of night and orange and pink bathe the sky, the shepherd gets up from the opening of the sheepfold and calls each sheep by name. Hearing your name, precious on his lips, you follow with the other sheep out of the gate into the world beyond the sheepfold. You do not know where he is taking you, you do not know what sort of dark valley you will have to wander as you go, but you look at the hands of your shepherd. In them are his staff and his club. With protection in his hands, you trust that in the end you will find yourself in a lush green field of soft grass.
Walking through a tight, dark canyon with those around you, the smooth voice is again heard from the cliffs nearby. It tell you that there is lush grass just up a small ravine on the side of the canyon. The voice advertises it as a small, abundant patch of lush grass for you and only you if you do not tell anyone else. It could be yours, you sway a little toward the voice. Dare you look up the small ravine?
The smooth voice speaks nice words, but they are not the words that would come from your shepherd’s mouth. Your shepherd cares for all the sheep. You have never worried about needing your very own grass before. You have not worried that there would be enough for you in the past. Why should you now?
You feel the rod of your shepherd lightly tap you away from the smooth voice, you feel the warm body of the shepherd move to your side, getting in between you and the smooth voice. In your heart you know that your shepherd will go to any length to keep you safe. Surely, the smooth voice, so willing to forget the rest of the herd for a small patch of lush grass would do no such thing. It is the voice of as bandit.
You continue to follow your shepherd. You don’t know where this tight canyon will eventually lead, but he has always guided you and those walking to lush valleys before. This time will be no different. He leads the entire herd and soon you see the green of the huge valley beyond. Jesus, your shepherd, gives everyone life, and this life is abundant.”
Learning how to open ourselves to hear and feel Jesus presence in us takes reflection and prayer. As we say, the bottom line is this: The relationship with Jesus is based on who God says we are and not upon what we have to do. What we do will then be a reflection of who we are. We are the sheep and Jesus is our shepherd. Let us follow with open hearts to hear and follow him for he will lead us to the lush green grass in heaven.
The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down his life for his sheep, who died for his flock, he is risen, Alleluia!!!!