Homily for April 12, 2008

The Fourth Sunday in Easter, 2008
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 23: 13a, 3b4, 5, 6
1 Peter 2:20b-25
John 10:1-10

Most Catholics have a special image of Jesus. It could be the baby in a manger; it could be the scene of the wealthy man who got on top of a roof to see Jesus; it could be the last supper with his 12 apostles. Mine is the scene of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the image of Jesus holding a little sheep in his arms with a shepherd's staff in the other hand. In a sense it is related to my decision to become a priest. As I visited Wadhams Hall Seminary in 1950 wondering if God wanted me to be a priest, I saw this image of Jesus the Good Shepherd in one of the windows in the chapel. When I returned to the Seminary a year later to begin my preparation to become a Catholic priest, that chapel was the center of my spiritual development. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, and just a few days before Pope Benedict XVI, our good shepherd, arrives for a five day visit to the United States.

In the world of Jesus, sheep and shepherds were very common. So, when Jesus says he is a good shepherd, he is using an image that would be easily understood by those to whomhe was speaking. Sheep are very dumb animals who will wander away or scatter, especially when approached by an animal of prey. It was the job of shepherds to protect the sheep. As a great teacher, Jesus used stories and images to teach. And today he uses the comparison of himself to a Good Shepherd who knows each sheep by name and takes care of them.
Shepherds carried two items with them. One of these was a rod and the other a staff. The Good Shepherd Psalm which we just prayed refers to the staff of the shepherd. The rod was usually quite long and had a hook at one end so that the shepherd could pull the sheep pack into the flock. The staff usually hung from the shepherds belt. It was a short wooden club with a lump of wood at the end. The shepherd used this to defend himself and the sheep against thieves. At times the shepherd might have the help of a sheep dog, but that was not very common when Jesus was living.

Most towns and villages in Palestine had a common place where shepherds would bring their sheep for the night. This was call the sheepfold. These were open air enclosures walled in by stones on top of which was a barrier of briars or thorn bushes. The gate was small. Only one sheep could go though the gate at a time. Once the flock was inside there was no heavy door or gate. A paid gate keeper or shepherds would take turns at night so that no one would come to steal the sheep, or no animals would come to kill the sheep. They would stand at the gate, or at times even lie down across the opening.

Each morning the shepherds would come to gather their sheep. Sheep, like many animals, easily recognize the special sounds. Each owner had agreed to a name or sound by which he would call his sheep -- almost like a family name. They would call out in a very soft voice or whistle the name given to their sheep. As the sheep recognized the name it would go to the shepherd. The sheep would then follow the shepherd gently out of the gate. Often we think of sheep following the shepherd. But that is not the case. The shepherd followed the sheep, much as farmers use to do when they would get cows from the pasture for milking. Following the sheep allows the shepherd to keep an eye on them. Also, if a sheep would wander away, the shepherd will see it, make a specific sound, and call it back to the flock. A shepherd was a non-threatening kind of leader. The shepherd had to be a good judge of the weather. He must be always looking for better pastures for his sheep. The sheep and their protection, and their growth and welfare must be his priority.

In our Gospel today Jesus wants to be known as a shepherd as well as a gatekeeper. In a sense we are like sheep. We too come together, live in villages or communities, live as families, join or form a religious or faith community. And we find our leaders: either those we elect, or are assigned to us, or we, with God's help, find a partner whom we marry and form a family. As Jesus says in today's Gospel: Rather than follow a stranger, we tend to follow someone whose voice we recognize.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows all of us by name. He is also the sheep gate. All who enter through his gate will have eternal life. If we turn to Jesus when we are troubled, we can find quiet and inner peace. In times of fear and anxiety, Jesus is ready to give us comfort. In the Eucharist, Jesus feeds us spiritually and consoles us. Jesus promises us that we will dwell with him for eternity.

Jesus encourages us to be servant leaders. More and more as we listen to the national and world events we should become convinced of the need for all persons to choose true leaders in the image of Jesus. Jesus teaches us that leadership is not an exercise of power by the leader but rather helping others to be all that God wanted them to be. The desire for power, possessions and prestige are often enemies of true servant leadership. A leader is best when people barely know the leader exists. When the leader's work is done, we can say WE DID IT OURSELVES.

That was Jesus. The world of his time would have called him a failure. Yet he gave us a spiritual way of life based on love: Love your enemies, Do good to those who hate you. Love one another as you love yourself. And love God as you love yourself.

If Jesus were here today, he would not use the image of the shepherd and the sheep. But what image would Christ use today to illustrate this love? Might he speak of a mother and father, of a teacher, a fireman or rescue squad volunteer, a nurse or doctor, a young person helping out at home, or with the shut ins? In other words, anyone who would be willing to die for those in their care. Fortunately, we have many today who are willing to do so. In fact all of us, at one time or another have responsibility for others.

As is the case with sheep, we also need to learn how to recognize the voice of Jesus within us, and how to distinguish it from the many other voices in our lives. The “voice” of Jesus and the Christian message does not sound attractive to everyone who hears it. I think it was Chesterton who remarked that Christianity hasn’t failed, it just hasn’t been tried yet.

Nearly every moment of the day we are faced with seductive advertisements we receive through TV, radio, computers, newspapers and movies. These certainly are a strong voice to which many of us have bowed down and worshipped. They are like cancer which is eating away our Christian faith and worship.

However, within all this communication jungle Jesus continues speaking through the Church. Into all this noise, we who hear His voice speak it in words and actions, that the life He came to give us in “abundance” is still available and worth living. Jesus is not a demand, but an invitation extended to and through us. Sharing, encouraging life, and recovery are the words we have heard and the gestures which will eventually bring about God’s one flock. We must truly want to make Jesus our shepherd; to make his teachings part of our lives, to love the way he showed us to love. The choice is ours.