The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Jn 10: 1 – 10

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Introduction

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. In our reading, Jesus speaks of himself as the good shepherd. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him. They listen to his voice and leads them to green pastures. The good shepherd’s only purpose is for his sheep to have an abundant life.

The Gospel

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Reflection

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. On this particular day, we remember Jesus the good shepherd. The image of Jesus as shepherd, carrying a lamb on his shoulders is probably one of the most iconic images we have of Jesus that dates back to early Christianity. This particular image was popular among early Christians because it reminded them of the Lord’s protection and care especially during a time of great persecution. In their mind, the good shepherd will protect them; and if anything at all happens to them, they knew deep in their hearts that the good shepherd would bring them back safely home to the Father’s house, carrying them on his shoulder. The image of the good shepherd then is an image of kindness and tenderness and one that still speaks to us to this day about the Lord’s care for each one of us.  

Today’s reading, however, doesn’t only speak about Jesus as the good shepherd. It also speaks of Jesus as the gate of the sheepfold. It is interesting how Jesus uses the image of the gate side by side with the image of the good shepherd. Jesus claims that he is the gate and that the real shepherd enters through this gate. Those who do not enter through this gate are mere impostors who do not have any good intentions for the sheep. Jesus labels these impostors as mere thieves and uses three infinitives to describe their motives: to steal, to kill and to destroy. The use of such strong language tells us quite clearly that it is only in Jesus where we find salvation. There seems to be no other way. Everyone else who promises life and salvation without Jesus is a mere impostor. Anyone who leads God’s sheepfold must lead the flock in and through Jesus as there is no other way that salvation can be offered to the sheepfold. 

But the image of Jesus as shepherd is not complete without the image of a sheep or a flock with him.  Jesus becomes a shepherd only because he has the sheep to tend to. In speaking about the sheepfold, Jesus describes the touching relationship and familiarity between himself and his sheep.  Jesus says that he knows each one by name. The sheepfold is familiar with his voice. They follow him wherever he leads them. They do not listen to strangers. They run away at the sound of a stranger’s voice. The sheepfold has a clear dependency on the shepherd. But because of this dependency, the assurance of food, protection and life is given by the shepherd.  

While our reading today presents Jesus as the good shepherd, it also presents to us the image of a sheepfold that is so dependent on Jesus. Perhaps we can ask ourselves if we still have a sense of dependency on Jesus. Like the sheep of his flock, we can ask ourselves if we still feel dependent on the Lord for our nourishment, directions and well being; if we still feel a certain dependency on his voice that tells us what to do or where to go. Surprisingly, this sense of dependency is really what gives us also a sense of contentment and abandonment. We discover this sense of contentment the moment we place everything in the Lord’s hands. We also discover this sense of abandonment the moment we know in faith that the Lord will lead us to a life lived abundantly.  

There is a psalm in the Old Testament, which speaks of God as a shepherd. There in that psalm, we find the psalmist’s sense of contentment  and abandonment. In that psalm, the psalmist writes: “ the Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing else that I want…” If we see Jesus as our shepherd, then there is every reason to rest and be contented because we know that Jesus himself will provide for our needs and will lead us to the right path. In placing our lives under the care of Jesus the good shepherd, we stand safe and secure because of him who leads us and loves us immeasurably.  

Prayer

Lord, you are my shepherd. With you leading me, I will never lack anything. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I will not be afraid because you are there to lead and guide me. Amen.

“ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
     he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake. “  - Psalm 23: 1 - 3