This
weekend the Church celebrates the fourth Sunday of Easter, often called
"Good Shepherd Sunday." This Sunday receives this nickname because
every year, on the 4th Sunday of Easter, we ponder the passages in the gospel
where Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd and his followers as his
Sheep. This shepherd analogy has been used long before the coming of Christ.
For example, the Greek poet Homer used this image to describe the hero of
the Iliad as a shepherd and the
Egyptian Pharaohs have been depicted in exactly the same way, watching over
their people with care and concern. For thousands of years, people have known
the great devotion and selfless concern a good shepherd has for the sheep of
his flock and this behavior is seen as the ideal for any leader to strive for.
As Christians, we believe that Christ fulfilled the role of Good Shepherd perfectly
in every way. He laid down his life for his sheep, he led and continues to lead
them to abundant pastures and gives them the food of eternal life in the gift
of the Eucharist. That Christ is the Good Shepherd is not in question; because
of that, let's take a closer look, not at the shepherd, but at the sheep.
Listen
again to what the Shepherd says about his sheep in
our gospel from John. Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow
me." In fact, there are two essential qualities about the sheep
of Christ. They listen for his voice and when they hear it,
they follow.
Perhaps
the most important question for any of us to answer is this: "are
we his sheep? Do we know the sound of his voice and follow it? Only if we can
say "yes" to both questions, can we be confident that his words of
comfort apply to us.
How
much easier might it be for me TO NOT KNOW the voice of Jesus when he speaks to
me? How much easier might it be for any one of us to not know the voice of
Jesus. There are so many other voices that are louder and bolder to distract
us. Consider the Bible! How many of us know what it says? How many of us prayerfully
read it on a regular basis? Aside from here at Mass, how many of us have
actually read it more than once in the last week? Or the last month? This is
one of the primary ways we stay in contact with the shepherd. If we do not
often pray with the Scriptures, do we really know the voice of the shepherd?
How
many of us actually prayed to God at least once a day every last week? Did we
dare to do so with our own words? How many of us, when we thought to pray; when
we thought to talk to God and bring our requests; thought also to listen to
God? How many of us actually took the time to quiet our hearts and minds to
listen for a message: a word, a thought, an impulse to come from the heart of
the living God?
The
great test of listening is in responding. We believe that Jesus is the Lamb of
God, slain for the sins of the world. We believe that Jesus is the Good
Shepherd, who laid down his life for us. We want Jesus to watch over us, to
protect us, and to prepare a table in the presence of my foes.
I
hope that most of us can say that we listen to his voice in the Word of God,
the teaching of the Church, the sacraments and personal prayer. But does that
make us one of his sheep? Not quite! It doesn't until we actually respond to His
voice, until we actually try to do what the shepherd is calling us to do, until
we actually follow the one who is speaking.
I
have asked you today if you are sheep that belong to the Good Shepherd. I have
asked you if you know his voice and if you follow him. These are very serious
questions; they are serious because the quality of our life, here and now, is
affected by whether or not we have a relationship with the living Christ. It is
affected by whether or not we actually come when the master calls, whether or
not we listen for his voice and strive to do what he tells us to do. Not only
is the quality of our life here and now affected; even more importantly, the quality
of our eternity is affected.
Friends,
in the eyes of God, each one of us has a place within his flock. God is calling
out to us. God is searching for us. God is asking us to come to Him, to listen
to Him, and to enter his fold to be sheltered and made safe with the rest of the
sheep. He wants us to be safe from robbers and thieves; safe from the evil one
who would have us live in darkness and despair.
The
Good Shepherd never gets tired or discouraged. He never gives up on anyone. He
is forever calling out to us in the scriptures, the sacraments, the teachings
of the Church, and in the love and compassion of other people. He wants to
bless, nourish, protect, and guide each and every one of us. Listen and follow: and you shall not
want. Listen and follow: and you
will lie down in green pastures. Listen
and follow: and your soul will be restored.
