Happy Good Shepherd Sunday!
As we listen to the gospel of today’s Mass we hear Jesus identifying himself as “The Good Shepherd”, and using the metaphor of shepherd and flock to help us understand the relationship that God offers to each one of us individually, and to all of us collectively (John 10: 11-18).
Jesus tells us that he – The Good Shepherd – knows each one of us by name and that he calls each one of us by name. Jesus is reminding us that each and every one of us is defined first and foremost by our identity as a beloved child of God and by our relationship with God. Jesus is telling us that each and every one of us is good and special simply because we are a child of God. None of us gets “lost in the flock”. Every one of us is singled out by God, created in his image, invited into relationship with him, given the ability to hear his voice, to perceive his revelation, to abide in him, and to live in accordance with his will.
Jesus tells us that he – The Good Shepherd – is sincerely interested in our welfare, and attentive to our needs, that he “guides us in right paths”, that he stands by us and protects us, that he “gives us repose and refreshes our souls” (Psalm 23). Jesus tells us that we can find comfort and hope in him especially during the difficult times of our life.
Jesus tells us that he – The Good Shepherd – lays down his life for his sheep, lays down his life for all of us, in order to save us. Jesus tells us that by laying down his life, he provides us life – a life that shares in what Archbishop Fulton Sheen calls “The Divine Romance” – the loving relationship within the Trinity between Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus reminds us that it is only through the Shepherd that we can enter into this Divine Romance.
And Jesus makes it clear that all are invited into this Divine Romance, that this fullness of life is meant for all. No one is excluded. Jesus asks us to see all people – regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, or nationality, as one flock – his flock, his one body – all equal children of God, all entitled to live the fullness of life that God desires for all of his children.
Indeed, all through the gospels Jesus reminds us that ours is a God who extends an abundance of love and compassion to all of us at all times, a God who is patient with us when we stray from him, who never gives up on us, who seeks us out over and over again when we are lost, and who then receives us back with a loving embrace. Pope Francis reminds us: “time and time again Jesus bears us on his shoulders with a tenderness that never disappoints…a boundless and unfailing love…making it possible for us to lift up our heads and start anew”.
So today, and every day, we celebrate Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Each and every day we take a moment to reflect on how blessed we are to have Jesus as our Shepherd, and how fortunate we are to have been invited into his sheepfold. Today and every day we ask God to help us more faithfully respond to our Good Shepherd’s loving outreach, to abandon ourselves to him, and to place our lives in his hands with humility and trust. And then with Jesus by our side, and with his Spirit living within us, we strive to live in imitation of him, shepherding each other, serving each other, and loving each other, confident in what the future holds for us – our ultimate destiny – safe and peaceful pasture with our Shepherd God.
Happy Good Shepherd Sunday!