Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose
sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and
runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because
he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.” John
10:11–13
Today, on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Good Shepherd
Sunday. It is a day when we reflect upon the tender image of Jesus
as the Shepherd of us all. It is also a day set aside to pray for
more shepherds within our Church who will shepherd God’s flock with
the Heart of Christ.
Our Gospel passage comes from John 10 which, in part, is a
commentary on the previous chapter that includes the long and
detailed story of the healing of the blind man. Recall that Jesus
healed this man who was blind from birth. He did this healing “so
that the works of God might be made visible through him.” As a
result of this man's healing, the Pharisees cast the blind man out
of the synagogue, not believing that Jesus’ healing was from God.
After the man was cast out of the synagogue, Jesus spoke with him
again and he professed his deep faith in Jesus, the true Shepherd.
The healed blind man said, “I do believe, Lord.” Then he worshiped
Jesus. Thus, the greater healing of this man was that he became a
member of God’s flock, accepting Jesus as his true Shepherd.
Our Gospel today is Jesus’ commentary upon the actions of the
Pharisees in contrast to His own. The Pharisees, as religious
leaders, were not shepherds. They were “thieves and robbers” who
came to “steal and slaughter and destroy.” Jesus, however, came so
that those who listened to His voice “might have life and have it
more abundantly.”
The Gospel passage quoted above explains why the Pharisees were not
true shepherds. It was because they “work for pay” and have “no
concern for the sheep.” Think about that statement as it applies to
the Pharisees and their treatment of this man who was blind from
birth. First of all, the “pay” that these Pharisees worked for was
their own self importance—a fleeting and worldly reward. They saw
themselves as the true teachers and interpreters of the Law and saw
anyone who did not follow them as a threat. The Pharisees clearly
perceived Jesus as such a threat to them. For that reason, they
took their envy out on this humble and simple blind man. They were
not shepherds to him. They did not encourage him, support him,
point him to God or act in any way as an instrument of God’s grace.
Instead, they condemned this innocent and holy man out of their
pride.
Though God shepherds us today through His sacred pastors, we are
all called to participate in this shepherding of the Good Shepherd
in our own unique way. We are called to lead those within our
families, at work, at school, within our neighborhoods, social
circles and in every other societal context. But too often we
imitate these Pharisees by allowing our own selfishness and desire
for self importance to interfere with our ability to put others
first and love them with the Shepherd's heart.
Reflect, today, upon the calling you have received to lay down your
life for others in imitation of the Good Shepherd. In order to
imitate this love in the Heart of Christ, we must love without
seeking love in return. Laying our lives down is an act of
sacrificial love that enables us to look only at the needs of those
around us. Pride and selfishness must disappear, and the good of
the other must become our only goal. Reflect upon how well you do
this, and pray that the Good Shepherd will use you to shepherd
those in your life who need it the most.
Divine Shepherd, You came to lay down Your life for us all so that
we might have life and have it to the fullest. Like the blind man
You cured, I profess my belief in You and worship You. Help me to
receive and imitate Your love so that I will lay my life down for
others, leading them to You, their holy Shepherd. Jesus, my Good
Shepherd, I trust in You.
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