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4th Sunday Of Easter C

Celebrating 100 years

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Cycle C

Q265: We are still in the “Easter Season” - which lasts until Pentecost; but already we have post-Pentecost scenes and a return to pre-Calvary images. What is going on?

It is almost like Jesus knew that the Resurrection might fade into the background of our minds, so he causes the Church to return to images that are so familiar to any baptized believer conversant with the Bible -- or even to anyone who knows what a flock of sheep is, and what a shepherd is (Jn 10:27-30).(1)

In the Easter Season we do three things, all rooted in the Resurrection. First, we “look back” and see the various forms of “Egypt” that we have been saved from, our slavery to sin. Jesus redeemed us on his cruel cross and set us free! Secondly, we “look forward” to the promise of eternal life, a promise we know will come true because the Lord is Risen – proof that everything he said will come true. Finally, we “look within” at our present state of spirituality, and recognize that our spiritual journey is a lifetime journey of active involvement. It calls for daily conversion, and daily cooperation with God’s Spirit dwelling within us.

This connection of past, present and future reminds us to listen carefully for the voice of The Shepherd every single day. Unless we are strengthened daily by his Word and nourished by his body and blood, our response to God’s call will be seriously threatened by the challenges of life in a world that does not share the values of Christ. Only those who truly listen and respond to the Shepherd’s voice by following him can be called members of his flock.

Know Your Catechism! The Lord gave Peter the keys of his Church and instituted him ‘shepherd’ of the whole flock (CCC #881). What is the quality of your relationship to this shepherd, through whom Christ now speaks? Just like Paul and Barnabas today (Acts 13:43-52), the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical and kingly office of Christ and participate fully in the mission of the whole People of God (CCC #873). What form does your participation take? How could it be improved?

My sheep…I know them"

In his book "Everyday Life of the Mayas," Ralph Whitlock tells us of the delicate respect that these Central American Indians had for animals in pre-Christian days. "Every animal in the forest," he writes, "had a soul, which was protected by the gods of the earth. A man could kill an animal if he needed to, but before or immediately afterwards he had to offer an apology."

When Christ spoke of the almost "family" relationship between the Good Shepherd and his sheep, he was speaking in terms that his Palestinian listeners, largely shepherds, well understood. Even today in the Middle East, there is close, almost familial, rapport between a shepherd and each of his flock. The sheep know his voice and follow him like children. He in turn knows them as individuals and treats them as a loving father. He will protect them at all costs against anybody who will try to "snatch them out of his hand" (Today's gospel). If one of them should stray, he leaves the rest in a safe place and goes off through brush and briar in search of the wanderer. Even when he finds the maverick sheep, he will not scold it (it is already sufficiently frightened and humbled); but simply put it over his shoulders and bring it back joyfully to the sheepfold.

St. Maximus the Confessor, an abbot of the seventh century, pointed out the close parallel between the forgiving shepherd and the forgiving Christ. Of Jesus he said "When He found wandering in the mountains and hills the one sheep that had strayed from God's flock of a hundred, he brought it back into the fold, but He did not exhaust it by driving it. Instead He placed it on His shoulders and so compassionately, He restored it safely to the flock".

In this "Holy Year of Redemption", Jesus, our good shepherd, calls on us, the sheep of his fold, to return to Him, whether we have wandered far or near. He asks us to confess our sins and change our hearts. We need not fear to say, "I am sorry". He who calls will treat us gently. He not only loves us; He respects us.

-Father Robert F. McNamara

Q. 421: The Gospel today (John 10:27-30) says that the “flock” of Jesus hears his voice and follows him. So how can a Christian “stray” if they try to follow Jesus?

This is one of the shortest gospel readings in our three-year cycle. Nevertheless, it is full of very encouraging words for us, such as “I give them eternal life” and “they shall never perish.” Sadly, it is also possible to “stray” from the fullness of truth that the Magisterium (official teaching office of the Church) provides for the faithful.

I think everyone in the world has agreed with the position of some politician or religious leader who said something that “sounded reasonable.” That agreement usually comes without any “digging” to compare that position with the official teaching of the Magisterium. It is important to realize that many have been led astray from faith itself - not because of theological arguments, but because of simple greed (1 Tim 6:10)! If it is easy to lead people away from the truth just for money, then think how easy it is to lead Catholics astray from the truth by appealing to their other desires - for the things they “want to hear” - such as the false teachings that contraception, abortion, and disagreement with the Church are okay.

One can call oneself a Christian; but one is NOT following Christ if they deviate from the teachings of the Magisterium in the area of faith and morals. This is when they stray - they have yielded to what the “want” to hear, rather than hearing what the Magisterium teaches as the moral truth.

We only have to look at the divisions within Christianity today, and see how people fall prey to the “pick and choose” theology - select only what you want to believe, and reject everything else. This is the basic root of Protestantism. It takes humility for us to accept the teaching of Jesus and his chosen successors, the apostles and bishops of the Catholic Church.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! You are “either for him or against him” - are you really sure which side you are on (CCC #590)? St. Paul teaches that some people have “a craze for questioning everything and arguing about words” (1 Tim 6:4). It is the teaching office of the Church, the Magisterium, which preserves the revealed deposit of faith (CCC #2035).


Page last modified on October 17, 2007, at 05:40 PM