HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER.
THEME: The Voice of the Good Shepherd.
By: Fr. Anthony O. EZEAPUTA, MA.
Today is the Fourth Sunday of the Easter season. This Sunday is often referred to 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 addition, in our gospel text for today (John 10:1–10), Jesus likens himself to the gate of the sheepfold. It falls between the stories of Jesus healing a man born blind (John 9:1–38) and the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1–45). It also sets the stage for Jesus’ teaching about himself as the Good Shepherd.
The Bible as we have it today, particularly as it is divided into chapters and verses, may not reveal at first glance how the Bible stories are linked to each other. But when you try to figure out what a Bible passage means, you must look at it in the context of the whole book.
For example, chapters 9 (the healing of the blind man) and 10 (Jesus’ liking of himself as the gate of the sheepfold) of the Gospel of John go hand in hand. In fact, we can’t separate them if we want to really understand today’s gospel message, especially what Jesus meant when he called himself the gate of the sheepfold.
The Pharisees disregarded the healing of the blind man and called both him and Jesus sinners. Since Jesus healed him on a Sabbath by mixing mud and applying it to the blind man’s eyes, which the Pharisees considered working on the Sabbath, they labeled him a sinner.
Furthermore, they assumed the blind man was a sinner because he was born blind as a punishment for his sins. And when they suspected him of wishing to follow Jesus as a disciple, they expelled him from their synagogue (John 9:1–38).
So, today’s gospel passage (John 10:1–10) is the response of Jesus to the actions of the Pharisees on the healing of the man born blind.
While they expelled him from their synagogue, as if they had the authority to decide who is and isn’t part of the community of faith. As the “Good Shepherd,” Jesus found a “lost sheep” and welcomed him into the community of faith. It is for this reason that Jesus refers to himself as “the gate for the sheep.”
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By the way, being a good shepherd at the time of Jesus was a full-time job. A good shepherd is always on the lookout for new pastures and predators. He also protects his sheep at night by leading them into a sheepfold.
If the sheepfold had no gate, he improvised by lying over the entrance to the sheepfold. He literally became the gate to the sheepfold, keeping his sheep in and predators out.
The responsibilities of a good shepherd to his sheep represent good Christian service, leadership, and parenting. A good Christian parent or leader provides for, supports, motivates, and protects those in their care. Simply put, a good Christian leader or parent acts as a gate, keeping people entrusted to them safe and predators out.
Another point that stands out in today’s gospel text is the importance of listening. And listening—real and not pseudo-listening—is never easy.
Pseudo-listening consists of appearing to be attentive to a conversation while only partially listening to the speaker. Unfortunately, after the conversation is over, the pseudo-listener will have forgotten much of what was said.
But real listening reflects an internal desire to understand another person’s perspective, enjoy their company, and make new discoveries. Sometimes, it entails having to change your mind in response to what you hear, which is so important for a disciple.
It is said that in ancient Israel, sometimes several shepherds might share the same sheepfold, causing their flocks to mix. But in the morning, each shepherd will stand some distance away from the sheep and call them by name. And when they hear his voice, because they can distinguish the voice of their own shepherd from the voice of other shepherds, they rush towards him.
In other words, a disciple is someone who not only listens to the voice of the Good Shepherd but also does what he tells them to do. Additionally, a disciple is someone who can recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd among so many competing or similar voices.
So, I must ask: Are you a pseudo or real listener to the Good Shepherd? Have you familiarized yourselves with the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to hear him calling your own name?
Do you listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd by making a regular, reflective, and prayerful reading of the Scriptures and the doctrines of the Church an integral part of your spiritual life? Are you attentive to the Liturgy of the Word at Mass and, hopefully, to the homilies that break it open?
Jesus says, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). If you listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, you will not only be saved, but you will also have life to the fullest. Have a blessed Sunday!
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