Fourth Sunday of Easter
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus has been compared to a good shepherd and we are his sheep. In first century Judea most people had sheep so they understood this image and what it means to care for them. Sheep rely totally on their shepherd - they “hear” his voice and they “follow” him.
My dear friends
Do we completely rely on Jesus? Do we listen to his voice? We all know what sheep are like - they can be both dumb and stubborn. They are oblivious to danger and easily stray away from the flock. Aren’t we sometimes like them: not always sure of where to go, easily distracted, weak and perhaps unaware of the evils that surround us. But like sheep, we can always rely on our Good Shepherd, on Jesus, to lead us. In Sunday’s Gospel from John, Jesus says he is the gate for the sheep. “Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”
On the ranches in North America, cowboys “drive” the cattle. But in the fields, shepherds “lead” their sheep. In driving the cattle, the animals are forced. The Good Shepherd does not stampede us towards salvation. He calls his flock. We know his voice. We allow him to gently lead us and we follow him knowing that his way is the right way. It is God’s way and it leads to redemption, resurrection and eternal life.
The Good Shepherd has earned our trust. He suffered for us and went to the cross to die - for us. And in the glory of Easter, in the rebirth of spring, he’s back among us. The gentle Jesus is risen triumphant over sin and death.
When you look back on your life, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty, or even today as we are challenged in battling an ramped killer virus, we can find Jesus, the Good Shepherd, comforting and encouraging us, protecting us and gently leading us home.
In John’s gospel, Jesus uses the “I am” formulation, which repeatedly illustrates the different aspects of his mission. In chapter 10, Jesus uses the construction twice: I am the gate and I am the Good Shepherd. The metaphors are different but the message is the same: Jesus leads and we follow.
The leadership lesson of Jesus is clear. The Good Shepherd is the ultimate leader. He lives for his flock. He serves his flock and he dies for his flock. For us as followers, the lesson is a little harder to grasp. 21st Century Christians probably have some difficulty identifying with sheep. It’s not just that we’re urban dwellers who’ve lost our farming roots. It’s our pride. Our ego tells us we’re smarter than sheep. We’ll go to Church and listen to the sermons. We’ll say the prayers and maybe read our Bibles. But we have our reservations. It’s a natural function of the ego-driven culture that surrounds us. Let’s be honest, we live in a society that screams: “It’s all about me!”
Well, this is understandable in todays world, everyone wants to be a leader and no one wants to follow! There are countless numbers of seminars that teach about leadership! Have you ever heard about a seminar that teaches you how to be a good follower. You have not? I certainly haven’t.
So where do we learn followership? Let’s start with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In the gospels, Jesus conducts a timeless seminar on leadership and followership. And the primary lesson is this: Love. Jesus is literally the epitome, the perfect example of God’s love. And we are drawn to his love. It fills a void in our being that God created precisely for that purpose. We are not coerced, bullied, or driven like cattle into this love. That is not the Good Shepherd’s way. Jesus’ love is the call that we follow. And he leads us. He walks among us today. He calls us today. And what is our answer to his call? “Sorry I’m busy?” “I gave at the office?” “I’d like to help, but not right now.” There’s an encyclopedia full of excuses. I’ve heard them all. And I’ve used a lot of them. How about you? Due to the fact that I can’t see you, I don’t know if you are blushing or not! Nevertheless the Good Shepherd does not give up on us. He is relentless. Listen for him. Follow him. It may mean just more quiet time with Jesus… or reaching out to a neighbor who’s struggling. It might mean forgiving a hurt or looking past a snub. But what better way to spend this Fourth Sunday of Easter, these hopefully last days of lockdown, than listening for the voice of the risen Savior? Hear his voice, answer his call and follow him.
Stay at home, stay safe, save your neighbor! Amen.
Yours Fr. Urs