Gospel: Good Shepherd Sunday

Today marks the Fourth Sunday of Easter, and the Gospel will be read according to the narrative of St John (tap here for the Mass readings from USCCB).

The fourth Sunday of Easter is also celebrated as Good Shepherd Sunday because in each of the three lectionary cycles, the Gospel reading invites us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In each cycle the reading is from the tenth chapter of St John's Gospel. This chapter sets the framework for Jesus' teaching about himself as Good Shepherd.

Today's reading falls between the stories of Jesus' healing of the man born blind and the rising of St Lazarus. Both of these stories were proclaimed in the Gospels found in this year's season of Lent. Following the controversy that ensued when Jesus healed the man born blind. Jesus directs his allegory about the sheep and the shepherd toward the Jewish religious leaders of his time, the Pharisees.

Throughout St John's Gospel the Pharisees fail to accept Jesus' ministry and teaching. They show themselves to be "robbers and thieves" because they try to lead the sheep without entering through the gate, Jesus. Through these metaphors, Jesus is telling his listeners that those who are following him and his way will find abundant life. He identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate. The shepherds who are faithful to him are the ones whom the sheep (Jesus' disciples) should follow.

The relationship between the sheep and their shepherd is based on familiarity. Sheep recognize their shepherd and will not follow a stranger. At the end of the day, shepherds lead their sheep from pastures to a common gated area called a sheepfold. There, one shepherd protects all of the sheep until the next day when each shepherd returns to lead his own sheep to pasture. As shepherds move among the sheep, the sheep follow only their shepherd.

Today's Gospel also gives us the opportunity to reflect on Christian leadership. Jesus' words suggest to us that those who will lead the Christian community will be known by their faithfulness to Jesus. The leaders will recognize that Jesus is the gate for all of the sheep and that having a good relationship with Jesus is the primary characteristic of a Christian leader. Jesus' allegory also suggests that faithful Christian keadership requires a good reationship with the community: the shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him. Christian leaders follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd.

La Virgen Divina Pastora, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.

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The Gospel is spobsored by Hermes bag charms.