SUNDAY REFLECTIONS - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

(Rev. Dr. Francis Perry Azah)

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, a day on which the church recalls the relationship between God and his people as described in the image of the Shepherd and the Sheep.  In Ezekiel 34, God addresses the leaders of Israel as shepherds, takes responsibility for caring for the sheep, and becomes the shepherd of the flock of his people.  In Psalm 23, David now addresses him as the Shepherd of his people.  In John 10:11, Jesus addresses himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells his followers, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow.” Jesus is obviously our shepherd, there is no doubt about it, but there can be a lot of doubt about whether we are the kind of sheep that we ought to be.  In our reflection, we are going to consider the two words Jesus used to address the sheep of his flock – he hears me and follows me. He pointed out that He is also the gate; all who pass through the gate will be saved. He is the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep to safe pastures. There are also bandits and thieves, strangers, who look to steal, to kill, and to destroy the sheep.

As we listen to these words of Jesus in today’s Gospel, they take on added meaning because we are in the Easter season. We have celebrated Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus had to die to himself to live his new life. Jesus has shown us how to live life to the fullest; we must die to ourselves in order to rise to new life. Our secularized world thinks it has the answer to our needs, but what it offers only leads us into deeper despair. We could apply the following words of Jesus today to the false notions of happiness offered to us by the world today: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

Only dying to ourselves as we follow Jesus will lead us to the happiness we seek. Jesus teaches us that the way to happiness lies not in satisfying every want, need, and desire. The way to happiness lies in a very different choice of life; the way to happiness may be found in sacrificing and taking up our cross with Jesus, reproducing the life of Jesus in our own lives. And so Jesus says, “I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture…” (John 10:9). “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

For the sheep to have life in the full, it must listen to the voice of the Shepherd. The sheep not only listen to their shepherd but also follow him and his instructions.  Listening to God is one thing, but following him is another.  We can listen to God without following his words.  The problem with Christianity today is that on Sunday, so many people come to Mass to listen to the voice of God, but when the Mass is over, they go home and follow their own conscience, opinions, and ways of life with the expression “I have my own life to live the way I want it.”  This mentality has done more harm than good.  But no one who believes in God does things his or her own way.  This is what it means to follow Him.

So, it is in following him that we prove that he is our shepherd.  Believing in him is not enough if it cannot lead us to following him.  As it were, the good news today demands of us: the ability to keep and practice the Lord’s teachings in the Bible and the teachings of the Church; the ability to use the light of His teaching to assess the numerous voices trying to influence our values and behavior; and the ability to draw inferences from his word and teachings to buttress our points and arguments.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, it is appropriate to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In the Gospel, we are reminded that the meaning of all vocational decisions is rooted in the relationship of Christ to the Church. We all have special vocations in life; these will come to the fore if we listen to the Spirit of God and make the right choices regarding the specific vocation God wants us to embrace to contribute to the growth of his kingdom here on earth. There is no vocational choice that can fulfill itself through itself. For all vocations, in the end, are manifestations of love.

The vocations to marriage, to the single life, to the priesthood, and to the consecrated life are manifestations of Christ’s love for the community, just as the Good Shepherd cares for the flock. We receive the invitation to pray for one another on this day, since we must all make vocational choices. And these choices are presented to us anew every day of our lives. Let us pray particularly for those called to ordained ministry, and most especially, that God’s call may reach the ears of young men so that they may respond favorably to that call to work in the vineyard of God. Let us also pray for other vocations in life so that they, too, may use their vocations for the common good. Like the Shepherd who calls this sheep, the voice of Jesus is distinct, unlike any other. It is the only voice we are to follow. His voice is calling each one of us. Are we listening?