Cycle A - Year II:  

11 May 2014: Fourth Sunday of Easter 

(Liturgical color: White)

John 10:1-10

The Lord is my Shepherd!

The fourth Sunday of the Easter season is a celebration of the Good Shepherd Sunday. The Responsorial Psalm of today's liturgy sums it up beautifully: The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want! (Ps 23)

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

In our country, however, shepherding may be alien to our consciousness because agriculture and farming is our traditional livelihood. Nonetheless, we can reflect on the qualities of a good shepherd and the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep to remind us how to exercise authority or leadership in our time, which should reflect the love and dedication of our Lord Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

In a general sense "good shepherd" is an image that implies someone who gives caring, compassionate leadership. A good shepherd walks in front of the sheep and the sheep follow the shepherd freely; they are not driven or coerced.

Thus, the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is that of mutual recognition through the use of voice, where there is a voluntary following or trust. Those who stay with the shepherd are not lost. At the end of the day, the shepherd brings his sheep into shelter.

What can shepherding teach us about God and our relationship with Him?

Well, the scriptures describe God as a shepherd who brings security and peace to his people. Just as the shepherd keeps watch over his sheep and protects them from danger, so Jesus stands watch over his people as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

In practical life, we can use the imagery of the Good Shepherd to guide us in choosing our leaders comes election time. We should support and elect only those leaders who by their examples of caring, compassionate leadership, love and respect for human life can truly lead us to be a God-fearing nation.

The second point in our reflection is to heed the words of our Lord Himself that He is the Gate for his sheep. And only if we enter through this Gate that we can have life and have it abundantly.

Today we should be weary of those who profess to be "Catholics"  and yet want to lead us astray from the only "Gate" for the sheep through their own "pollution" of the official teachings of the Church, particularly on the sanctity of human life.

If we do not recognize Christ in the voice of his Church and those who are tasked to proclaim God's kingdom we are likely to get lost. And perhaps many, including Christians, do lose their way because they do not heed the voice of the Good Shepherd and do not want to enter the only "Gate" for the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, our Good Shepherd.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!