Fourth Sunday of Easter 'B'

As we continue to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection, the Fourth Easter Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday, when we celebrate the risen Lord as the Good Shepherd Who lays down his life for His sheep. The priest in charge of a parish is called pastor because pastor means shepherd of Christ’s sheep. As a shepherd, he leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects Christ’s sheep in the parish. The earliest Christians saw Jesus as the fulfillment of the ancient Jewish dream of a good shepherd. They also wished to include the Gentiles as part of God’s flock.

In today's First Reading, Peter declares unequivocally before the Jewish assembly that there is no salvation except through Christ the Good Shepherd Whom the Jewish leaders have rejected and crucified and in whose name the apostles preach and heal.

In the Second Reading, Saint John tells us how Yahweh the Good Shepherd of the Old Testament expressed His love for us through His Son Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by making us His children.

In the Gospel passage the Pharisees ask Jesus to clarify if He is the promised Messiah. Jesus’ answer is “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus claims that as a good shepherd He knows His sheep and loves them so much that He is ready to die for them. The Gospel text offers us both comfort and challenge. The comforting Good News is that Jesus the Good Shepherd knows us, provides for us and loves us. The challenge is that we should become good shepherds to those entrusted to our care and good sheep in our parish, the sheepfold of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Let us become good shepherds! Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd; pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials and politicians are all shepherds. Shepherding a diocese, a parish, a civil community or a family is very demanding... Dedication, commitment, sacrifice and vigilance are needed every day on the part of the shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time, talents, health and wealth for their welfare, and guarding them from physical and spiritual dangers. Parents must be especially careful of their duties as shepherds, becoming role models for their children by leading exemplary lives.

Our local parish is our sheepfold, and our pastors are our shepherds. Jesus is the High Priest, the bishops are the successors of the apostles, the pastors are their helpers and the parishioners are the sheep.

We become good sheep of our parish by hearing and following the voice of our shepherds through their homilies, counseling, and advice. We do so by taking the spiritual food given by our pastors through regular and active participation in the Holy Mass and the sacrament, prayer services, retreats, devotions and renewal programs. Also, by cooperating with our pastors giving them positive suggestions for the good of the parish, encouraging them in their ministry, by praying for them, by cooperating as good stewards in the activities of various committees and parish ministries.

Let us pray for vocations to priestly life so, that we may have more holy and Spirit-filled shepherds to lead, feed and protect the Catholic community. Let us encourage those who are called and pray for them to respond to God’s call to serve His Church in the ministerial priesthood.