Cycle A - Year 1:  

7 May 2017: Fourth Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical Color: White)

Gospel:Please Read John 10:1-10

The Lord is my Shepherd!

Who do you think is an effective leader: the one who simply gives commands for others to follow, or the one who works with the team to achieve the desired results?

Well, both kinds of leaders may get things done in their own way, but the one who works with the rest achieves something more, like the respect and admiration of those he or she leads. 

This Sunday's Gospel narrative provides us the best model of leadership in our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the Good Shepherd.

In the Church liturgy, the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season is a celebration of the Good

Shepherd Sunday. The Responsorial Psalm in the Mass sums it up beautifully: "The Lord is my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want! (Ps 23)

During the time of our Lord shepherding was the main occupation of people. Hence, the imagery of a "Good Shepherd" relates to the practical realities of daily living of people at that time.

But in our particular situation, we have no experience of shepherding.  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 generation.

In a general sense "good shepherd" is an image that implies someone who gives a 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 to follow him. Because the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep is that of mutual recognition through the use of voice, where there is a voluntary following or trust. Thus, those who stay with the shepherd are not lost. And at the end of the day the shepherd bring all his sheep into the shelter.

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

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.

Thus, we can use the imagery of the Good Shepherd to guide us in choosing our political leaders when it is election time. We should support and elect only those candidates who by their examples of caring, compassionate leadership, love and respect for human life can truly lead us to be a God-fearing nation. It may be a bit late now for this, but let us not lose hope that our risen Lord will not abandon us and find a way of "resurrection" from our own-made national tragedy.

The second point in our reflection is to heed seriously the words of our Lord Jesus Himself about Him as the only Gate for His sheep. And only if we enter through this Gate that we can have life and have it abundantly, 

We need to be weary of those who profess to be "Catholics" and yet want to lead others astray from the only "Gate" for the sheep through "pollution" of the official teachings of the Church for their own selfish interest, for example, on the sanctity of human life.

If we do not recognize, or refuse to recognize, our Lord Jesus Christ in the voice of His own Church and those who are tasked to proclaim God's kingdom we are likely to get lost. And perhaps many, including those who professed to be 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" to God's kingdom, Jesus Christ Himself.

So let us pray, that the celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday may enlighten and convert those who exercise authority to reflect and follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came that we might have life and have it abundantly.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!