The Good Shepherd; 4th Sunday of Easter

In today's gospel there is no story no parable, no miracle nor healing.

Instead we have five statements linked together by a well-known metaphor of the Good Shepherd. Five statements to believe or not, to live by or ignore. Many including the Pharisees did not believe, but many, starting with the disciples, came to believe.

 Today's Gospel takes us back, before Jesus' death and resurrection and brings us to the Temple portico where Jesus answers the Pharisees questions about who he is.

That answer was simple and direct, but it is a great promise to all of humanity, it is a great comfort to believers and a great truth that grounds our faith.  Jesus simply tells the Pharisees he is the Good Shepherd.

 It is revealing that two of today's readings ties the Good Shepherd of John's Gospel to the Lamb of God of the Book of Revelations. It is marvelous to me that the Lamb of God (who takes away the sins of the world), who sits in unknowable transcendent power and glory at the center of the throne of heaven is also the knowable Good Shepherd who leads his earthly flock to springs of life giving water.

 Jesus who freed the prisoner, healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, and who by his own free will became our Paschal Sacrifice, who rose from the dead and who now sits at the right hand of the father is both lamb and shepherd. Jesus is both the way and the destination.

 Being a shepherd is a hard, lowly job. To be effective, the shepherd must know his flock (collectively and individually) but more importantly the flock must know its shepherd.

To be a good shepherd one must have the smell of sheep about him, as Pope Francis says.

And the natural outcome of this mutual deep knowing is that the flock comes to love the shepherd, who already loves them, and they follow him in absolute trust.

 And so the first statement in today's Gospel “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me". This is about hearing and recognizing the voice, the word God, believing in the voice, the word of God and belonging to the voice, the word God. It is about falling in love and choosing, in freedom and trust, to follow a new path. This is a relationship that goes beyond the ordinary. 

 As hard as this is for me to fully understand, Jesus (both transcendent Lamb and knowable shepherd), knows each of us personally, what we have made of ourselves, what our choices in life have been. But, he also knows us as we truly are, children of God. He knows our true value as human persons and true worth to God and neighbor. St Paul writes about why Jesus can know us better then we know ourselves. "All were created through him, all were created for him. He is before all else that is. In him, everything continues in being."

Jesus knows us with God's own creative-sustaining knowledge.

 But, this is not enough for God who loves us but (is beyond us). Out of an unimaginable self-giving the Father sends his son Jesus to come and dwell (as God with us). The Lamb comes to be with the flock, to identify with the flock and live in solidarity with those he loves.

The transcendent Lamb becomes the Good Shepherd, with the smell of sheep about him, with sleeves rolled up, getting his hand dirty and when work is done, breaking bread with sinners.

 Again, in the words of St Paul "Though he was in the form of God he did not deem equality of God something to be grasp.  He emptied himself taking the form of a slave, being of human likeness. He became humble and obedient, even to the point of death."

This was the only way. The Lamb had to come to join the flock in order to know and be known to faithfully shepherd the flock even to the point of laying down his life for it.

Only by this unimaginable act of selfless love could Jesus be one with us, to truly know us and call our name - saying come follow me.

 There is no force no coercion. There is no pushing or pulling. We hear and recognize his voice amidst the clamber and competing voices of the world and we are compelled by his spirit to follow the one true voice.

The second statement. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

Following Jesus leads us beyond the transitory structures and changing values of this world. Following Jesus leads beyond the claims of this world and its physical laws, even beyond the apparent finality of death itself. Jesus gives us new life with the Holy Spirit, and this life is beyond everything, (beyond whatever we can dream or imagine) it is eternal and everlasting.

 The third statement declares that Jesus can keep this promise, because he is the promise.

"The Father and I are one.” This is our guarantee. God gives life so does the Son. God's creating spirit begins and sustains all life, but it is only through the Son that we receive new eternal life. In the words of St John – “for just as the father raises the dead and gives life so also does the son give life to whomever he wishes.” What the Father does the Son also does.  I would add as the shepherd does so should the sheep. Jesus is the image and presence of God and it is God who shepherds his people.

 The next statement is a promise. No one can take them out of my hand. Time and time again Jesus tells us “do not be afraid."  Do not be afraid of the hirelings, liars, thieves and wolves, because you are not alone.

We are not anonymous nameless creatures, we are each known by name and loved as we are.

We are never forgotten or abandoned to this world or left to our own foolish devices and poor choices. We are often, if not always unfaithful and we are certainly stubborn sheep, but God is faithful and endlessly patient. Remember and take comfort, the Good Shepherd will leave the ninety-nine safe in the sheepfold to find the one who is lost.

 And finally My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. Life and faith are gifts from God. All that comes from God is Gods and will return to God in God’s time, but until then it is the Son’s to shepherd.

Everyone who hears shepherds voice can be found in whatever wilderness or darkness they find themselves. Everyone who hears his voice can follow the voice out of the valley of death to green pastures and still waters, to light and life. Everything created by the father and given to the son, every living creature, every human being is destined to be a part of God's everlasting flock.

 Let’s end with the beginning. Five statements describing one truth.  In the mystery of the incarnation the Lamb becomes the good shepherd and in the resurrection the shepherd, who loves us till the end, becomes the Lamb once more.