Gospel commentary Jn 10:11-18
In our high-tech society, the Gospel for this fourth Sunday of Easter
gives us an agricultural focus in the image of the Good Shepherd. This is a
familiar Gospel that we have heard many times before. For the priest or bishop,
it is a challenging Gospel because it calls us to examine what kind of
shepherds we are. That is a good and healthy thing for church leaders to do.
Some parishioners regularly analyze the quality of shepherding they are
receiving.
In a homily on this Gospel, Pope St. Gregory acknowledges the high
standard to which the Lord holds church leaders, but then Pope Gregory pivots,
turns it around and raises a different question. He asks
the people, "What kind of sheep are you?" What is your relationship
to the flock of Christ? That's a searching question for all of us. There are similarities
between us and sheep.
First, we are vulnerable to the wolves of life. We are vulnerable
to death, disease and accidents. We can see that in the homemade crosses that
dot our highways indicating the spot where a loved one died. So much in our
life can change in a matter of minutes. We are vulnerable to the wolves of life
that come in many shapes. We need strength beyond ourselves for whatever comes.
Secondly, sheep have a strong herd instinct. They say that if one
sheep goes over a cliff, the others tend to follow. Whether that is true or
not, we are like that to some degree. Despite the rhetoric about our "rugged
individualism," we want to fit in. We are influenced deeply by the fashions of the day (we can
verify that by looking at our high school yearbook photo). We follow the latest
fads and watch the latest movies. When we hear a speech on television, we wait
to see what our favorite commentator says about it, so we will know what to
think.
Advertising appeals to this herd instinct to show us what is “in"
and what is “out.” There is also a herd mentality when it comes to morality. Whether
it is abortion, violence, greed or lust. If others do it, we think it’s OK. We
need a source of right and wrong beyond what the crowd thinks.
Thirdly, sheep wander from the flock. They do not have a strong homing
instinct. Someone has to find the lost sheep and bring it back. So it is with
us. We drift from the Lord slowly and gradually. We need someone to bring us back
when we wander.
We need a good shepherd in our life who will help us deal with the
wolves of life, who will guide us as to what is right and wrong, and who will
lead us back when we get lost. That shepherd is the Lord Jesus.
He is among us in many ways but most powerfully through the sacramental
life, the people and the living tradition of the church. The Easter season is a
time for us to rejoin the flock of Christ, the church. Here we listen to
Christ's teaching, here we receive strength and grace for dealing with the
difficult moments in our life, here we have a path to our eternal home with
Christ.
We are not baptized to be lone rangers, righting wrongs all by ourselves.
We are called to be members of the church supported by Christ's truth and
grace, knowing that the work of Christ will continue even when we have passed
on. Good Shepherd Sunday is for all of us. Are we good shepherds? Are we good
members of the flock?
If you feel like a lost sheep, then let yourself be found. The
Good Shepherd is looking for you.
Msgr. Krempa is pastor of St. Bridget of Ireland Church
in Berryville.