Cycle A - Year II:  

3 May 2020: Fourth Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Acts 2:14, 36-41

Second Reading:   1 Peter 2:20-25

Gospel Reading:   Please read John 10:1-10  

"I am the Gate for the sheep!"

A leader is important especially during most trying times.  Who is the leader you would want to follow in critical times: the one who gives commands for others to follow and does nothing more, or the one who stays with the people to walk through the storm so to say?

Well, both are leaders in their own way, but the one who chooses to be with his or her people and walk through the storm is likely the more respected and loved leader.

This Sunday's Gospel provides us a model of leadership in our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the Good Shepherd.  In the Church liturgy the fourth Sunday of Easter Season is a celebration of the Good Shepherd Sunday.  Psalm 23 proclaims it beautifully: "The Lord is my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want!"

Recall that 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.

It is different in our situation now, and we have no experience of shepherding.  Even so, we can relate 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.

So in a general sense, "good shepherd"is an image that implies someone who gives a caring, compassionate leadership.  In the Gospel narrative today,  He is the Gate and through Him all the sheep enter inside the sheepfold.  And when the Gatekeeper leads them out for pasture, the 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 of the Shepherd's voice, and so there is a voluntary following or trust.  And those who stay with the Shepherd are not lost, and at the end of the day the Shepherd brings all His sheep back into the shelter.                        

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 does Jesus stand watch over His people as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

We can use the imagery of the Good Shepherd to guide us in choosing individuals to lead us.  We should choose 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.  Let us not lose hope because our risen Lord will not abandon us and find a way of "resurrection" from our own-made Calvary.

The second point in our reflection is to heed seriously the words of our Lord Jesus Christ about Him as the only Gate for His sheep.  Only if we enter through this Gate that we can have life and have it abundantly.  For Jesus is our Gate Keeper and Shepherd.  Jesus sticks with us no matter what happens.  He is committed to caring for us and leading us.  Jesus comes and finds us when we are lost and afraid.  And Jesus will keep looking for us until He finds us.

The world is in crisis, threatening the whole of humanity. The way for people to go through this destructive storm and survive is for our leaders to be compassionate and loving, caring and protecting those they lead, like that of the Good Shepherd Himself.

Do we trust that our Lord Jesus Christ will protect as at all cost, as our Good Shepherd?                  

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!