FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2024)
Readings:
Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12
Psalms 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 29
John 10:11-18
What was supposed to come to an end on the Cross surprisingly continues through the ‘spirited’ deeds of invigorated disciples. The communities where Jesus traveled, and beyond, were no doubt surprised by the example of the cowards who hid behind locked doors, and who were expected to disperse and go back to their former work of fishing. Instead, with the gift of the Spirit, they were filled with a sense of mission, and their hearts were filled with the tangible spirit of Jesus, the Christ, Who had taught them who to be and how to act if they were going to follow in His footsteps. The Jesus so many had conspired to execute on a cross, and who was safely placed in a tomb, might have been invisible to most individuals, but what He stood for very much lived on in the lives of His disciples.
Throughout this Easter Season our first readings are generally taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is thought to be the evangelist Luke’s second volume, and is as close to a ‘history’ as any book in the New Testament. As such, it recounts for us what the Holy Spirit does when it is implanted into the hearts of those who followed Jesus most closely. Turning the disciples from cowards into zealous and fearless missionaries, they set about to doing good, and Peter in our first reading alludes to “a good deed done to a cripple,” a healing which happens not because of any special powers that Peter has on his own, rather, it is because “Jesus Christ the Nazarene,” who lives in the soul of Peter, willed that the cripple should be healed. Peter is, as John’s first letter might say, “like Him,” who he denied even knowing at one of the saddest times of his life. Now, like the Master, Peter is able to go about doing good and preaching the gospel of Jesus the Christ, until he surrenders his life on a cross, albeit upside down.
Up until today, our Sundays have focused on the appearances of the resurrected Jesus, appearances that were critically important for the early Church. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, a day on which we pause to glimpse at one of the most familiar metaphors used by Jesus, and popularized by John, whose gospel has a relatively brief discourse dedicated to Jesus as Shepherd. Despite most of us having had little contact with any shepherds or shepherdesses, the imagery of the good shepherd resonates with all of us. Jesus doesn’t compare Himself to any shepherd, but emphatically states that He is the Good Shepherd, who is more than a hired caretaker who runs away with the first sight of a wolf. Jesus knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. One can picture a kindly, mature man who has nicknames for his entire flock, and the Good Shepherd will “lay down his life for the sheep” – willingly, obediently, and eagerly, “lay it down on my own – and “no one takes it from me.” Jesus goes on to say: “I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.” The power “to take it up again” comes from the Father, who raised His Son from the dead.
Even in this metaphorical discourse, on a Sunday with no direct resurrection appearances, the outline of God’s eternal plan of salvation are obvious. What makes the shepherd good is His willingness to surrender all for the sheep who recognize the sound of His soothing voice. Notice, too, that the flock is bigger than one can imagine, for “there are other sheep that do not belong to this fold,” but He will lead them also, for they too will recognize His voice.
Are we attuned to recognize the voice of the great and Good Shepherd who leads us and protects us? There are lots of voices out there, and some, as soothing as they might sound, are eager to lead us astray for their own purposes. And then you have the wolves, coming from afar, who would like nothing more than preventing us from reaching our predestined destination. We are called upon to not be easily fooled by voices other than that of the Good Shepherd. It takes eyes and ears of faith to recognize the difference between the Good Shepherd and the voices of those who wish to distract our focus on where it is the Shepherd is leading us. May we listen carefully to the voices which uphold truth, encourage more love and compassion, disdain evil, bolster generosity towards all, and which recognize the dignity of every human person.
Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of the flock,
Grant us the grace to hear your voice as you call us
By name, so that we might enter the fold
Of the Father’s house for all eternity.
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