4th
Sunday of Easter (Year A)
(GOOD
SHEPHERD SUNDAY)
First
Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Second Reading: 1
Peter 2:20b-25 Gospel
Reading: 10:1-10
“I
AM THE GATE FOR THE SHEEP.”
A
lady visiting the Holy Land came upon a sheepfold located high on a
hilltop. Her attention was drawn to one poor sheep lying by the side
of the road bleating in pain. Looking more closely, she discovered
that its leg was injured. She asked the shepherd how it happened.
“I
had to break it myself,” he answered sadly. “It was the
only way I could keep that wayward creature from straying into unsafe
places. From past experience I have found that a sheep will follow me
once I have nursed it back to health. Because of the loving
relationship that will be established as I care for her, in the
future she will come instantly at my beck and call.”
The
woman replied thoughtfully, “Sometimes we poor human sheep also
want our stubborn ways and, as a result, stray into dangerous paths
until the Good Shepherd sends sorrow and pain to arrest us. Coming
then into a sweeter and closer communion with our Savior, we at last
are conditioned to hear his voice and follow his leading.”
Today
is the 4th Sunday of Easter and it is commonly known as “Good
Shepherd Sunday,” a day in which the Church recalls the
relationship between God and His people as described in the image of
Shepherd and Sheep. Each year, the Gospel Reading of today is chosen
from Chapter 10 of St. John's Gospel, where Jesus speaks of himself
as the “Good Shepherd.”
Today, in fact, we listen to the first and the beginning part of that
chapter.
In recent times, this day
has also become known as “Vocations
Sunday,” a day when our Church prays especially for new
shepherds and pastors to lead the Christian communities.
Now,
we are in the Easter Season and today's Liturgy continues to hearten
us with the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst, contemplated as
Shepherd and Guardian of the sheep. The
Responsorial Psalm for today, beautifully introduces that theme -
“The
Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want.”
Jesus
is the Good Shepherd because of his gentle care and loving commitment
to the flock he pastures and protects. The Gospel Reading of today
tells us that Jesus is also the “gate
for the sheep”
because he is the way to salvation. As sheep gate, he leads us to
eternal life. The
First Reading from Acts of the Apostles portrays Peter proclaiming
how to return to the Lord’s flock, by personal repentance, the
purification of Baptism and by receiving the Holy Spirit. In the
Second Reading from his 1st Letter, Peter seems to echo the words of
Isaiah 53 as he recalls how we had all gone astray like sheep, each
taking his own way. Jesus Christ takes on himself the task of
reuniting the sheep, as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
“REPENT
AND BE BATIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!”:
Although
at this point in the Liturgical Calendar the Church has not yet
celebrated Pentecost, the First Reading in the entire Easter season
is taken from the Acts of the Apostles concerning events that
occurred after the decent of the Holy Spirit. This is no accident,
but it demonstrates that the whole season is Spirit-filled, from the
Easter Vigil to Pentecost. Today’s reading is taken from Peter’s
sermon on the day of Pentecost itself, continuing the passage read
last Sunday. In response to his proclamation of the Good News
proclaimed last week, some of the crowd are struck by the message and
ask, “What are we to do?” The
truth cannot be entertained passively, but demands a response in
action. Peter said to them, “Repent and
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins.” Peter must have been an excellent speaker because
we are told that the people were “cut to the heart” and
conceivably because of that famous ‘Jewish guilt,’ there seemed
to have been many converts, as many as three thousand persons. Thus,
the proclamation of the resurrection provokes a crisis in people’s
lives, demands decision, and results in rapid growth of the new
community of the believers.
“THE
SHEPHERD AND GURDIAN OF SOULS!”
The
image of Jesus, as a shepherd, established itself early in the
outlook of the first Christians. In the Second Reading from the 1st
Letter of Peter, a metaphor is also used, this time for Jesus
himself. Jesus is called 'the shepherd and
guardian of souls.’ It is an interesting mixed
metaphor because a few paragraphs earlier, in the section we read
last week, Jesus is also the lamb as well as the shepherd. An
interesting mixed metaphor!
In the reading today,
Peter makes an impassioned appeal to the believers to follow in the
footsteps of Jesus. He tells that Jesus suffered for us so greatly
and completely that by his wounds we were healed. We were like sheep
that had lost their way, but now we have been brought back to follow
Christ, who showed us the redemptive meaning of suffering.
“I
AM THE GATE FOR THE SHEEP.”
The
Gospel Reading of today from St. John also contains a mixed
metaphor. In this passage Jesus gives two comparisons. He
compares himself to the Shepherd and to the Gate. The
first title represents his ownership and the second title
represents his leadership. The first is a warning against
people who would want to steal the sheep and the second focuses on
the relationship between the sheep and their shepherd. Jesus is the
Gate, the door through which the sheep have an access to the
shepherd. The central image, too, is not so much that of the shepherd
as of the gate. In fact, later on in the passage, Jesus says, “I
am the gate for the sheep,” and the shepherds who come
in and out are pastors who are faithful to Jesus. Anyone who does not
enter the sheepfold by the gate, for instance, by climbing over the
fence or breaking through it, is dangerous and should be avoided.
Only a thief and a brigand who comes to steal and do harm to the
sheep will not use the gate. The genuine shepherd, however, enters by
the Gate and is recognized and admitted by the watchman outside. The
true shepherd knows which ones belong to him and calls them out one
by one. The sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice and stay with him.
They will not follow other shepherds, even if called by them. It is a
free relationship. They follow, not because they are forced to but by
their own choice.
The passage ends with one
of Jesus' most beautiful statements, “I
came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
To follow Jesus is not, as some seem to fear, to live a half life, a
life filled with endlessly dire warnings of 'Don't!'
It is to live life more abundantly.
Actually,
the description of Jesus through these metaphors may be summed up as
follows: The Good Shepherd is the leader who lays down his life for
the sheep, his flock. He is the caring companion, who protects them,
whose voice they recognize and who provides pasture and life for
them. The believer is thus offered a relationship of trust and safety
because of the action of the shepherd. The use of this image
indicates the intimate and close bond
between the members of the flock, the Church, with Jesus, the Good
Shepherd.
PRAYING
FOR VOCATIONS:
The
Scripture Readings of today are intimately linked with the second
theme
of this Sunday. Not only is it “Good
Shepherd Sunday,” it
is also “Vocations
Sunday.”
It
is obvious that our Church today is in great need of good shepherds,
totally committed to the Way of Jesus.
So,
the
Church invites
us to reflect on the meaning of God’s call and asks us to pray for
good vocations. Those
called to ministry in whatever capacity in the Church are like
shepherds. They are called to care for the spiritual welfare of those
they serve. The readings therefore focus on the Risen Lord, the
Shepherd par excellence. The central image is that of a caring
shepherd – Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus in the passage refers to
himself as the Gate for he ensures their security. The early church
would have seen Jesus as the Gate of the sheepfold, while the
shepherds are pastors who are faithful to Jesus, charged to care for
the sheep. Anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the Gate is
dangerous and should be avoided. Jesus refers to such a person as 'a
thief and a brigand'
who comes to cause harm to the sheep. The genuine shepherd, however,
enters by the Gate through Jesus. Such a person is recognized and
admitted by the watchman at the gate.
Now, “Vocations
Sunday”
is not for a few selected, it is for all of us here. It
is a pity that we tend to narrow the term 'vocation' to those who
feel called to the priesthood or what we fall 'religious' life, as
when we ask, 'Do you think you have a vocation?' Or say, 'There are
very few vocations in our diocese.' So, we need to emphasize very
strongly that every single baptized person has a 'vocation'. Everyone
is called by God to play a specific role in the Christian community
and in the wider community. Unless we Christians see that 'vocation'
is something that we are all called to, it is not likely that there
will be enough people to meet the service needs of our Christian
communities. Our Christian communities can only grow and thrive when
every member makes a contribution to the well-being of the whole.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus
is obviously our Good Shepherd, there is no doubt about it but there
can be a lot of doubt about whether we are the kind of sheep that we
ought to be. As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray to the
Lord that we may be his good sheep, listening attentively to his
voice, and follow his example of self-giving love. Let us also pray
for all our shepherds, especially our religious and political
leaders. May they follow the example of Jesus who was willing to
serve and lay down his life for his sheep. Jesus our Good Shepherd is
the Way, Truth and Life. He is the one who goes after the lost sheep
leaving the ninety-nine to bring it back to the fold.
Again, the Church today
insists that vocations are a responsibility of the Christian family.
To foster vocations, the family must foster the Christian life. The
family must live its faith in Christ on a daily basis in unity and
prayer. The Church of Jesus fosters a living faith in the Christian
family. Through such families, the grace of God is manifested and
vocations flourish to ensure that the needs of the Church are all
met. Today let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious
life, that many will be inspired to show true love, to the point of
sacrificing many other attractive options to become priests of Jesus,
to follow him in religious life. And this is the Good News of today.
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