From Messiah to Shepherd
In this fourth week of Easter, Jesus would love us to look at him as a shepherd. Today’s gospel presents it very well when the Jews ask Jesus to be clear. How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. (John 10:24) They were looking for a savior. They wanted an anointed one of God to rule over them. They were looking for someone to free them from the Roman rule. And yet they had seen all this in Jesus. They had doubts about his doctrine but believed in his strength. They saw him do extraordinary things. However, this is not what Jesus came to do. His salvation was not geared to simple removal of political power but integral redemption of people. Especially Christ wanted salvation from the slavery of sin and death and the powers of the evil one (the devil).
Looking at Christ, therefore, as a shepherd brings us closer to salvation than ever. A shepherd loves his sheep and knows them. He does not simply rule over them but lives with them. The shepherd worries about his sheep. The good shepherd listens to the flock, leads the flock, heals the flock. And the flock knows how to distinguish between shepherds, (…) the flock trusts the good shepherd. (Homily of Pope Francis on Good Shepherd Sunday, 2020)
Dear Friends, now that we have Christ as the Good Shepherd, let us struggle to be part of the flock. Let us learn his voice and listen to it. The voice of Jesus is a voice of love. Is it not the absence of love that has brought misery? Is it not the pursuit of selfish interests that makes us miss out on the true message of Christ? He is offering himself to us as a shepherd whose language is love.
Let us pray:
Most Merciful Father, as we celebrate this fourth Sunday of Easter, we come even closer to your Son as our shepherd. We acknowledge him as a good shepherd who gives up his life for his sheep. We would love to be part of that flock that listens to his voice and lives his language of love. Therefore, following him will make us enjoy all he offers to those he loves. Amen.
