4th Sunday of Easter Acts
4:8-12; I John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18
The
Shepherd's Love
by Fr. Gregory-David Jones, O.S.B.
Everywhere
in our world, there seems to be a way of classifying
individuals based upon extrinsic characteristics. Their
qualities, attributes, skills etc. often determine their
status, income and place in a tiered system of
desirability. This is sometimes necessary for society to
function and is important even in our daily social
interactions with one another. Unfortunately, we can
allow this type of tier system to become part of the way we
value others as human beings. What’s even worse is the
possibility that we allow this way of thinking to seep into
how we believe God relates to us. Jesus’ pledge of
himself as the Good Shepherd demolishes this notion and
reveals the most vivid, the most pure picture of love.
In calling himself the Good Shepherd
Jesus declares, “I will lay down my life for the sheep.”
He didn’t say, “I lay down my life for the good sheep” – he
made his declaration for all the sheep who belong to him – the
good, the okay and the bad. How do we become his
sheep? Simply by coming to him as we are; with humility
and without the idea of “earning” our place in the
sheepfold. The truth is that none of us deserve such a
Good Shepherd. This is what makes Jesus the
personification of that title he gave himself. The
Divine love of the Good Shepherd who “knows” his sheep does
not look upon our flaws, failures and wounds (inflicted by
self or others) as problems, but as opportunities for his
grace to bring healing, strength and redemption.
Jesus the Good Shepherd knows
everything about us and sees the beauty and value of each of
us in a way that is far beyond our own comprehension.
The very thing that makes Jesus the Good Shepherd is the fact
that he himself became a sacrificial Lamb for the sake of his
sheep. He identified himself with us so that we could
identify with him and grow in the pattern of the mystery of
his Divine love; a love that was obedient to the will of the
Father; a love that invites us to a Divine life that expresses
gratitude by imitating the Good Shepherd in the way we guide,
befriend, forgive, heal and value one another.
Everywhere
in our world, there seems to be a way of classifying
individuals based upon extrinsic characteristics. Their
qualities, attributes, skills etc. often determine their
status, income and place in a tiered system of
desirability. This is sometimes necessary for society to
function and is important even in our daily social
interactions with one another. Unfortunately, we can
allow this type of tier system to become part of the way we
value others as human beings. What’s even worse is the
possibility that we allow this way of thinking to seep into
how we believe God relates to us. Jesus’ pledge of
himself as the Good Shepherd demolishes this notion and
reveals the most vivid, the most pure picture of love.