Cycle C - Year II:

17 April 2016: Fourth Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical color: White)

Gospel: Please read John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice!"

What do we expect from a leader? The question is foremost in everyone's mind as we approach another national election in our collective journey as a souvereign nation.

On the Fourth Sunday of the Easter season the liturgy inspires us with the timely message about what a leader should be in the image of our Lord as the Good Shepherd.

Of the many titles attributed to Jesus, perhaps the most consoling and reassuring is that of the Good Shepherd. It is the Lord Himself who claims that title (Jn 10:11).

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.

However, in our country agriculture and farming is the livelihood, and so shepherding may be alien to our conscieousness. 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. The shepherd walks in front of the sheep, and the sheep follow the shepherd freely; they are not driven or coerced.

In the opening of the Gospel passage Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (Jn 10:27) Thus, the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep is a mutual recognition through the use of voice, a picture of the sheep following the shepherd voluntarily based on total trust.

Those who stay with the Shepherd never get lost. For how can they? Because we know and believe that Jesus our Good Shepherd is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

And when one sheep goes astray, the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes in search of the one who has wandered and brings it back.

The Gospel also says that we have been given to Jesus by the Father. And so it is in Jesus, and through Him that we find our way back 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.

What is the practical application of this Sunday's Gospel in our lives?

It is really a timely message. For we can use this imagery of the Good Shepherd to guide us in choosing our leaders this coming national election. We should support leaders who by their examples of caring, compassionate leadership, and love and respect for life can truly transform us to be a God-fearing people.

The second point in our reflection is on sheep-like attitude. We are the sheep and the sheep listen to and recognize the voice of the shepherd. We must follow our shepherd and not another.

As followers of our Lord Jesus, it is important for us to recognize the voice of Jesus as it comes to us in our daily life. The voice of Jesus can take many forms in our Christian living. It comes to us first and foremost through the official teachings of the Church, which Jesus Himself established since apostolic times. 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, or refuse to heed, Christ in the voice of His Church and those proclaiming God's kingdom, we are likely to get lost. Sadly, many including those who profess to be Christians have lost their way. They do not know where the Shepherd is, or perhaps they do not have shepherds..

And this brings us to the last point in our reflection. This Sunday is also Vocation Sunday. Let us pray that more generous individual answer the call to dedicate their lives in a special way to the ministry of the Church community. Let us also pray for our priests, bishops, an the Pope that they remain good shepherds of God's flock here on earth.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!