Good Shepherd Sunday

On Good Shepherd Sunday

Mass 4^th Sunday of Easter (C) Fr. Aelred.

The New restatement offers us many images of Jesus, each one bringing out a different facet of his Person. Surely on of the most beautiful and reassuring image is that of Jesus as the Shepherd of the Father’s Flock. It is an image Jesus used of himself and his mission.

Jesus is no hireling. The hireling doesn’t own the sheep, and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf approaching. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The sheep belong to him, and he is ready to die for them.

Jesus made very wonderful promises to those who belong to him. He says that none of them would ever be lost. No one would succeed in snatching from his care the sheep the Father has entrusted to him. The sheep that belong to him will be safe with him because the Father’s power is in him. (He and the Father are one). And he will lead them to the pastures of eternal life.

We need essentially three things to belong to Jesus’ flock. The first and basic requirement is to believe in him. We enter the flock by becoming believers. The second requirement is to listen to his voice. To listen to his voice is to heed his teachings. And the third requirement is to follow him. To follow him is to do his word.

Obviously the relationship has to be a two-way thing. The sheep have to choose belong. Jesus won’t or can’t save people against their will.
But if we sincerely want and try to belong to him (following him and doing what he says), then he will take care of us in life and death.

It doesn’t mean belonging to Jesus will guarantee us an easy life here on earth. Those who belong to him are likely to be persecuted, but those who remain faithful through their trials will share in his glory in heaven. This is vividly portrayed in today’s second reading from the Apocalypse which describes John’s vision of the great crowd of the saved from all nations.

We can’t belong to Jesus without belonging also to his flock. The flock is an image of community. Even on a human level we have a deep need for community. Jesus knew this. That’s why he wanted his followers to live as a community. In community we find mutual support, encouragement and companionship.

The privilege of belonging to Jesus flock is not something that is offered to a chosen few, but to everyone, Jews and Gentiles. We are familiar with the idea of a global Church that is can come as a surprise to remember that this was such a radical idea. We saw something of the price St Paul paid for his radical idea in the Second Reading. Over and over again he was repeatedly ejected from places where he preached, was imprisoned multiple times and was finally executed.
He willingly imitated Jesus the Good Shepherd in laying down his life for his flock.