Fourth Sunday of Easter 

The Good Shepherd Sunday. John chapter 10

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

The fourth Sunday of Easter, or Good Shepherd Sunday, is celebrated each year in the liturgical cycle, and we read a passage of the Gospel taken from John Chapter 10, where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. Thus, every year, we hear the sweet voice of Jesus saying, “I am the good Shepherd.”

Jesus presents himself as the Good Shepherd in a confrontational context with Jewish authorities—the religious leaders—regarding the healing of a man born blind. Jesus has healed the man on a Sabbath day, and the religious leaders are outraged because Jesus is breaking the law. The blind man has spent all his life begging to survive, and now he has recovered his sight. However, the religious leaders do not care about the wellbeing of the people, and instead of supporting this man and his family for his reincorporation into society, they take him and his family to a religious trial and treat them badly. Finally, the healed man is expelled from the synagogue—the religious system—for professing his faith in Jesus. Are these leaders the ones called to care for the disadvantaged? They are, but they do not fulfill their mission to be shepherds of the people.

In the Old Testament, God is the shepherd of Israel who guides the people like a flock, and he cares for them, particularly those in need of care, as the prophet Isaiah says, “He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep (40,11).” God called for leadership, both political and religious, to guide and care for the people; however, many of them neglected God’s flock, so God sent prophets to denounce these evil shepherds. In the face of their failure, God announces, through the prophets, the coming of the Messiah, for whom the mission and title of shepherd is applied.

Jesus resumes the prophetic mission and denounces the evil shepherds, the Jewish authorities of his time; however, he is not only a prophet but fulfills the messianic prophecy for he declares himself to be the good shepherd sent by God.  In John Chapter 10, Jesus contrasts his mission with the evil shepherds’ deeds; they are thieves and bandits while Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep, who follow him because they know his voice. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” says Jesus (10,10). The most dramatic distinction between Jesus, the good shepherd, and Jewish leadership is Jesus’ love for the flock. While the others run away in the face of threats, Jesus offers his life for his sheep, and declares, “I lay down my life for the sheep.”

In the light of Jesus’ statements, his audience was divided. Many of them said that Jesus had a demon. Others asked, “Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? (10,21).  It seems that it is the Jewish authorities who affirm that Jesus has a demon, whereas the people trust him for they have witnessed his great deeds. The first ones are not ready to understand Jesus’ messiahship, caring for the flock. How would our religious and political leaders react if Jesus were to tell them they are not good leaders for they do not practice justice and care for the most disadvantaged?

Later, in Jerusalem, at the festival of the Dedication, Jesus’ opponents gather around him and ask, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly (10,24). Faced with this question, Jesus returns to the shepherd and his sheep imagery and responds, The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep (10,25-27).  Jesus makes a distinction between those who do not believe in him, the leadership who maintain the status quo, and the people—those who need a good shepherd. It is the people who hear his voice and follow him, and Jesus assures that no one will snatch his sheep out of his hand because no one can snatch anything from his Father’s hand.  

Sisters and brothers, considering the confrontation between Jesus, the good shepherd, and the corrupt and evil leadership of this world, to which side do we pledge our allegiance? Do we follow Jesus or the corrupt leadership?

Our world is ruled by evil shepherds who neglect God’s flock, who take advantage of people and do not care for them. They covet power and wealth, and people are only a means to achieve their ambitious. Who will shepherd the flock of God today?

 This Sunday is also called Vocation Sunday and offers us the opportunity to reflect about the call of Jesus in our world. Today, the good shepherd reminds us of our vocation to be the shepherds of his flock.  Are we those shepherds? How do we care for Jesus’ flock, his lambs, and the mother sheep? AMEN