- 1st Reading – Acts 13:14, 43-52
- 2nd Reading – Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
- Gospel – John 10:27-30
As I said earlier, today is called “Good Shepherd Sunday;” and our Gospel reading today reminds us that Jesus is our one, true shepherd, but maybe it’s a little more than coincidence that every few years Good Shepherd Sunday also falls on Mother’s Day, those who were the first shepherds of our life—–literally. We can never thank our mothers enough for all that they’ve done for us, but at the end of Mass we will have a special blessing for them. But eventually, as we get older, hopefully, we come to realize that Jesus is our ultimate shepherd.
Thinking of Jesus as our Good Shepherd reminds us of the intimacy and the friendship that Jesus seeks with each and every one of us. Today’s Gospel paints a wonderful picture of that intimacy that he seeks by calling us his sheep. He says: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me.” He goes on to say that no one can take them out of his hand. This brings to mind those familiar images; the stained-glass windows or the paintings of Jesus carrying a sheep in his arms or across his shoulders. Bringing the lost sheep back to the flock. This image, then, also brings to mind the poem “Footprints;” I’m sure most of you have heard it. Where we are reminded that during the troubled times of our life, Jesus carries us. When crosses or problems, or some personal disaster come our way in life, these images of Jesus, the “Good Shepherd” reassure us that we are not abandoned. I’m sure we can all imagine times in our lives as that lamb being carried by Christ. You may remember the health issues that I went through several years ago. It was just such an image, of Christ carrying a sheep that gave me much comfort and peace as I laid in a hospital bed. These images are meant to show the loving and caring relationship that Jesus wants with every one of us; and to show that he protects us.
The key to this passage, however, is that the sheep listen. The sheep hear and are able to recognize the voice of the shepherd. Real sheep out in a pasture have an amazing ability to recognize their shepherds voice, even when different flocks intermingle, they can quickly separate and follow their own respective shepherds just by the sound of their voice. All of us, —–all who aren’t deaf, have the capability to recognize voices. How many people are there who’s voice you can immediately recognize when answering the telephone, even without caller I.D., our spouses, our parents, siblings, close friends? Jesus needs to be on that list too.
Today’s Gospel challenges us to hear and to recognize our Lord’s voice. Our world today doesn’t resemble a quiet pasture. There are so many distractions and so much noise, so many voices leading us in so many directions. Do we spend enough time in prayer to be able to recognize our shepherd’s voice, whether that voice comes while in prayer, while reading Holy Scripture, or listening to a friend? Can we pick up the calling of Jesus in our day to day lives? As followers of Jesus, it’s our mission and purpose to follow him and live according to his ways. He invites us to see his presence in those around us and calls us to walk closer to him. But the decisive moment comes when we go beyond simply listening and following and let Jesus be at the center of our lives in a profoundly intuitive and trusting manner. We must truly let him be the shepherd of our, lives.
We need a shepherd to give us direction in live. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the one who leads his sheep, and we are like sheep, we need to depend on our shepherd more than we think. We need to realize that Jesus does speak to us, and we have to learn to recognize his voice, and then follow him. “Jesus knows the sheep by name. And in speaking to them, the sheep listen and know his voice, and follow him.”
By letting Jesus lead us, giving in to his leadership with trust that he will protect and guide us, by listening to his voice and being thankful for the care he gives us, as a true shepherd, we can free ourselves from many of the burdens of life. We need to take time to look at the wonderful graces that are already part of our lives, the many gifts that God has given us. Of course, there will always be sickness, death, and discouragement in many forms, but that’s when we need to let him carry us on his shoulders, know that he is with us, and turn our pain and our fears over to him. By giving it all back to God, by finding the ways he has been good to us, and by listening to his voice, we might actually find the happiness and peace that we look for, but that we can’t find on our own. The shepherd cares for each one of his sheep. He knows us better than we know ourselves; and he lays down his life for his sheep.
Today’s Gospel isn’t just speaking about the intimate, personal bond that exists between him and his followers, but also about the bond that exist between each one of his followers, and about how we care for each other. It speaks about our responsibility when it comes to caring about others. He’s asking us to examine what motives come into play when life gets tough. There are times when we may be called upon to sacrifice our comfort, our profits, our own welfare, and maybe even our own lives for the sake of others.
In light of today being called “Good Shepherd” Sunday. Today, worldwide, is a day of prayer for religious vocations. Men and women alike from ordained ministry, to consecrated life, to lay ministers serving in so many other capacities. We want to recognize and continue to develop the many different vocations in the Church, we’re all aware of the shortage of priests, the shepherds among us, who have wholeheartedly embraced a life of self-sacrifice, and self-giving, for the love and service to God and for the spiritual well-being of the Church and it’s followers. Jesus said to the Apostles, “Feed my sheep.” And he is still calling men to the priesthood as shepherds, and women to consecrated life, and all of us for the service of caring for God’s loved ones. We have to give thanks for the ones who listen to that call and are willing, like him, to lay down their life freely. It’s up to the rest of us to bring attention to that calling and give encouragement to those who might be called.
Our 2nd reading today also calls all of us to be witnesses of Christ. In our reading from the Book of Revelation, people are presented from every race and nation carrying palm branches and wearing long white robes, robes that they washed and made white with the blood of the lamb. This is just a small sampling of the elaborate symbolism in the Book of Revelation. The long white robes represent the baptismal commitment of the people of every race. Their palm branches refer to their being martyrs or witnesses of Christ. The whiteness-or purity of the robes is attained through sacrifice. They wash their robes white by following Jesus in sacrifice, in the blood of the lamb. God is very much aware of their sacrifice, their efforts to serve his Kingdom. He knows us and he sees our efforts and he protects us. God sees the entirety of our lives, not just our mistakes. He sees our intentions, our desires, -all that we do. God sees the sacrifices we make that have become such a part of our lifestyle, that we may just take for granted ourselves; the numerous times you stop whatever you’re doing to make time for someone else, your spouse, your children, or any other person that needs your attention. God sees those times even if you don’t give them a second thought.
The reading from Revelation particularly applies to martyrdom. This reading reminds us that Christianity demands martyrdom. All Christians are called to be martyrs. But the word martyr in this sense means witness. We may or may not be confronted with the option of torture and death to give witness to our Christianity, but we always have to give witness to our being Christians. This means putting others before ourselves. It means standing up for what is ethically and morally right, even when, as so often is the case, we are in minority and the object of scorn. It means keeping the source of our strength and our faith life flourishing through prayer, through the sacraments, and community worship. These are just some of the ways that we are called to give witness, to be martyrs for Christ.
John saw a large crowd, there in heaven; a number no one could count. Today, we ask ourselves, “Are we in that crowd?” Are we wearing long white robes as a symbol of commitment to the Christ? Do we carry palm branches as a sign that we are witnesses to Christ? Are we martyrs? Do we continually join Jesus in sacrifice, thus washing our robes in the Blood of the Lamb?