GOSPEL COMMENTARY JN: 10:
27-30
Would it be correct to say there is something pastoral about a
pasture? Would it be worthwhile to meditate on what a herd heard? Are puns
really all that baaaa-d? The brief passage in this Sunday’s Gospel is part of a
special image from Jesus’ teaching about how God interacts with his people. We
can learn from it, find it consoling, allow it to challenge us, and we can find
that it deepens our understanding of God’s love for us. As members of the Good
Shepherd’s flock, we are very blessed.
Sheep have big ears but their mouths are somewhat small. A less
than gentle cowboy, John Wayne, once told a son of his (in a movie) that the
son was “long on mouth and short on ears.” Of course, as humble followers of
Jesus we are wise to learn to listen much more than we speak. Certainly this is
true in prayer. When we think of sheep,
though, we don’t think of bright intelligent creatures. Nonetheless, Jesus
presents this teaching that we are like sheep — that we are his sheep — as a
good and positive thing. And so it is. When we hear his voice deep within our
consciences we are directly united to God, to his wisdom and his truth.
The description we hear this Sunday is one of an obedient
response to his voice. We notice that there is nothing of the stubbornness that
can be found in sheep. Docility to his voice is described along with the
profound reality that God knows his sheep. If we begin to understand that our
Good Shepherd knows us better than we know ourselves, we might grow in our
willingness to follow, to be led by him.
Sheep have natural enemies and have little capacity to defend
themselves. The protection described by Jesus should give us great
consolation.Our willing obedience to his will can bring us an interior peace
and it is wise for us to be obedient. Even so, Jesus describes something still
greater: The protection he offers is not dependent on our choices. While we can
run away from him, Jesus will continue to watch over us. He will not tire of
calling us home. He will protect us from our supernatural enemy and from
anything which might entice us away from the peace and safety we should
have.
Sheep aren’t glamorous animals. If a sheep is properly “sheepish,”
its life will turn out as expected. To graze for days producing wool free from
wolves — dull but peaceful. The teaching of Jesus, however, includes something
more. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish,” he says.
To be a sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd is the
beginning of our eternal life. The peace and security we hope for in this world
is something we expect will be present in Heaven. As sheep in Jesus’ care, we
already possess something of eternity.
Sheep of the Good Shepherd’s flock, living in his verdant
pastures, have it made. The life of believers can seem unimpressive but its
simplicity helps us to see all that it offers. We are safe and cared for
because we belong to Jesus. As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus points out that we
are his because his father, who is greater, gave us to him. Not bad, not bad at
all. Ewe should be grateful? Sorry. But you should.
Fr. Zuberbueler is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church.