Cycle C - Year I:

21 April 2013 - 4th Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical color: White)

John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice!"
 
The theme of the liturgy on the fourth Sunday of the Easter season is on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel from John, Jesus says that he takes care of his sheep and "my sheep hear my voice."

Shepherding was the main occupation of people during Jesus' time. Hence, the imagery of a "Good Shepherd" relates to the practical realities of the daily living of people in his time.

In our country, however, agriculture and farming is the livelihood, and so shepherding may be alien to our consciousness. Nonetheless, we can reflect on the qualities of a "good shepherd" and the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep to understand God's message to his people in today's liturgy.

Good Shepherd is an image that implies someone who gives caring, compassionate leadership. He walks in front of the sheep, and the sheep follow the shepherd freely; they are not driven or coerced.

The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is a mutual recognition through the use of voice, where there is a voluntary following and total trust.

Those who stay with the shepherd will never be lost. How could they be? Because we know that our Shepherd is the Way, He is Truth and Life.

And when one sheep does happen to go astray, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes in search of the one who has wandered to  bring it back.

And so the Gospel today says that we have been given to Jesus by the Father. It is in Jesus, and through Him,  that we find our way to the Father. Because Jesus is the Truth and Life and he alone can lead us to the very source of all Truth and Life, God himself.

We can use this imagery of the Good Shepherd to guide us in choosing our leaders this coming mid-term election. We should support leaders who by their example of caring, compassionate leadership, and love and respect for life can truly lead us to be a God-fearing nation.

The second point of our reflection is on sheep-like attitude. We are the sheep, and the sheep listen to and recognize the voice of the shepherd, and that is why they continue to follow him rather than another.

As followers of Jesus, it is important for us also to recognize the voice of Jesus as it comes to us in our daily life.

In our Christian life, the voice of Christ can take many forms. It comes to us first through the official teachings of the Church, which Jesus himself established since the time of the first apostles. It is also in the voice of those who come into our daily lives to preach and witness the Good News.

If we do not recognize Christ in the voice of his Church and those proclaiming God's Kingdom, we are likely to get lost. And perhaps many, including Christians, do lose their way. Because they do not know where the Shepherd is, or perhaps they do not have shepherds.

And that brings us to the third point in our reflection. This Sunday is also "Vocation Sunday" to pray that people may answer the call to dedicate their lives in a special way to the ministry of the Church community.

In particular, we are asked to pray that people will consider whether they are being called to join the ranks of priest-shepherds or to the dedicated life of brothers and sisters.

In the Mass we pray that the Lord send "shepherd of souls" to lead his flock to Him. Let us also pray for those who follow our "Good Shepherd", our priests, bishops and the Pope that they become good shepherds of God's flock here on earth.

A blessed Sunday to all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Deo Optimo Maximo!