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 4^th Sunday of Easter, Yr A (Good Shepherd Sunday): Reflection by Fr. Julian Ekeh

THEME: CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERED AND WE

(John 10:1-10)

The Universal Church today, the fourth Sunday of Eastertide calls to mind Jesus, the good Shepherd. We are invited therefore to be both good sheep and good shepherds as the case may be in our various capacities. We are called to appreciate the efforts of our various good shepherds at various levels and also invited to encourage those who are called to be shepherds especially of souls to answer their calls and live up to the required expectations even with the accompanying crucibles.

Who is a good shepherd?

Shepherds are common among the Jews. Livestock business, farming and fishing are the main occupations of the Palestinian regions at the time of Jesus. Little wonder He centered his teachings around these well-known realities to make  them to be well rooted and understood by His audience. In His parables, we will hear Him talk about the landowner, making the apostles Fishers of men and today Himself as the Good Shepherd.

They were conversant with shepherds but there is a novelty: The Good. What makes one a good shepherd? Is the big question. Jesus knew this will be running in their minds and so He differentiates between the Shepherd and the thief. Thus, implying that if one is not a good shepherd he is not worthy of the name Shepherd. Jesus says, the thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Sheep and shepherd here are figuratively used. Jesus used them to express ‘leading’ and ‘following’ in the Church, in the society, in the family and wherever we find ourselves.

Do we have life giving shepherds in our society today or thieves? They are thieves if they rigged themselves into the positions they are occupying. They are thieves if they have no due process in their dictionaries. They are thieves if   they are insensitive to the feelings of those they claim to be leading. They are thieves if they do not know the voice of their people and their plights. They are thieves if they milk them instead of feeding them. They are thieves if they are opportunist and insincere.They are thieves if the people run away from them. They are thieves if they are afraid of the people. They are thieves if the people will stone them when opportunity permits. They are thieves if they fail to carry the weak sheep. They are thieves if during elections they can move into any part of the village for campaigns but will not be there for them in times of danger. They are thieves if they use the resources from the sheepfold for their selfish gains. They are thieves if their children cannot study in the same university with those they lead. They are thieves if they cannot provide adequate healthcare for the people the lead. They are thieves if they do not feel the pain of the sheep in their care.

Jesus comes not as a thief but as a Shepherd. He enters through the gate. He is known by the sheep. They know His signs. They know when to move and when to stay. They listen because He is harmless. They feel safe because the Shepherd does not sleep. He does not slumber. He teaches them how to keep away from the enemy. He is proactive. He doesn't wait for the danger to strike before He acts. His actions are timely. He corrects whoever that is at fault. He is impartial. He doesn't make distinction in rewards or blames. He is there for everyone. He is objective. He honors Peter when he does well and reprimands him when he misbehaves. He leads the sheep lovingly. He clears all their doubts. He earns their trust. He does not force himself on them. They naturally follow Him. They follow because He cares about them. He doesn't give them anything in half measures. He gives them abundantly. He gives them life in full. He fights with the enemy to the point of even losing His life that His Sheep may be spared. That is the good Shepherd. The picture of the good Shepherd is the picture of Jesus on the Cross. He accepts death that His sheep may be safe.

We all are sheep and shepherds.

This is true. At one time or the other we are either sheep or a Shepherd. Whichever one we are at any point in time what should define us is goodness. The Shepherd should shepherd well and the sheep should follow well. Failure to lead well will put a blame on the shepherd. Failure to follow well will make the sheep a bad one.

In the society we have the public ministers as shepherds. Until they see themselves as servants of the masses and make their interests their priority they will never be good shepherds.

In the Church, the shepherds of souls, the bishops and priests should be worthy of the name. They should, like Jesus care for the souls entrusted to them and feed them with truth and not sweet lies. They should bandage the wounds of the weak sheep and not inflict injuries on them. They should console the afflicted followers with love and take them to Jesus Christ. They should reach out for the strayed. The eternal life of their followers should be of paramount importance to them.

In the families, the parents are the shepherds of the children given them by God. How have you been shepherding your children? Do you only care about giving them food and other provisions and leaving them at the mercy of their teachers? Make out time to be with them. Nourish them with good morals. Be a living example they should follow. Give them values that will follow them all through life. Children should as well follow, listen and heed the shepherding voices that guides their vocations in life. They should in a very special way ensure they seek the voice of God in order to be good shepherds of tomorrow either in the Church or in the society. Through a proper guidance of the young today, the world will be led out of darkness and death into life.

Over and above all, let us all look upon Christ the good shepherd. Let us follow where he leads. When we follow him we will have nothing to fear even though we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death. Let us pray also that our political shepherds may lead us along the right path, that they may be guided aright, that they may not lead us into wars but into true peace and order. That they may not be discouraged. May God help us to follow His life-giving paths and become life givers ourselves through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh