The Fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, is the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Each year on this Sunday, we reflect on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who devotedly and kindly takes care of his flock.
Some people think that their pastor works only on Sundays! Perhaps, the comment is not totally untrue! What other responsibilities does God give a pastor, and what does God expect of him besides saying Mass and preaching? The pastors are those who take their sheep to pastures – they are shepherds. A shepherd leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects his flock. In today’s Gospel, John presents Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophecies in the Sacred Scripture about the Good Shepherd, where Jesus presents himself as the true shepherd. John wants to help his community deepen their understanding of the meaning of this biblical image.
This image is to be understood in the light of the Old Testament, where God was the shepherd of Israel, and their kings were expected to be shepherds to the people. David was the great Shepherd-King, and the Jewish people awaited the coming of a king like David. John introduces Jesus as that shepherd-king whom Israel had been waiting for.
This explains the importance of Jesus describing himself as the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. In today’s text, the emphasis is on the relationship between Jesus and the members of his flock. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The first image of the Good Shepherd that comes up in our minds is the one of the Master holding a sheep on his shoulders or in his arms. But, the good shepherd spoken of in John’s Gospel is different from this sweet and tender image of the shepherd. Instead, Jesus presents himself as a tough, strong, decisive man who fights against the enemies to save his sheep. He takes the image of David, who chased the lion and the bear that took away a sheep from his flock knocked them down and snatched the prey from their mouths (1 Samuel 17:34-35). Jesus presents himself as one who is not afraid to fight to the point of giving his life for the flock he loves (John 10:11).
Jesus guarantees that his sheep will never be lost and that no one will take them from his hand (v.28). Their salvation is guaranteed not because of the good behaviour of the sheep but by the initiative of the shepherd. This is the good news that comes from Easter and that we must communicate to every person. Even to those who have done everything wrong in life, we must communicate this guarantee of the Good Shepherd: your miseries, your shortcomings, your death choices will not succeed in defeating the love of Christ.
For your reflection
Through today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches one of the central aspects of our vocation: Every one of us who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence, pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, etc., are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time and talents for their welfare, and guarding them against physical and spiritual dangers.
Father Josekutty
Mathew CMF
