Sunday Gospel Reflection
"I am the Good Shepherd"
Introduction:
Leadership Through Sacrifice
What responsibilities do you have in life? What sacrifices have you made to carry out your responsibilities?
Sacrifice seems to be an ugly word these days. No political leader dare breathe the word, lest he or she loses the next election. No media star or technological CEO dares mention the concept, lest they be called "hypocrite." In these days of the hyper-economy and the "ME!" culture, the notion of giving up a desire or putting off a pleasure for the good of others is "verboten." Self-indulgence, not self-giving, is society's keyword.
Yet, beyond the self-absorbed veneer of culture, people are willing to give up for something greater. They are willing to sacrifice for those they love and for that in which they have faith. Sacrifice is the yardstick that measures one's character and values. Self-giving proves the worth of one's words and intent.
Just how far should we be willing to sacrifice for others and for our ideals? Look to Jesus for the answer.
First Reading
Acts 4:8-12
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,
"Rulers of the people and elders,
9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done
to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but
which has become the head of the corner.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved
Second Reading
1 John 3:1-2
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that
it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear
what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is
Gospel Reading
John 10:11-18
11 I am the good shepherd.The good shepherd lays his life
down on behalf of the sheep.
12 The hired worker, not being the shepherd,who does not own
the sheep,sees the wolf coming,abandons the sheep, and flees-the wolf takes (one of ) them
(as prey) and scatters (them)-
13 because he is a hired worker and he does not care for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd;I know mine and mine know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father,and I lay
my life down on behalf of the sheep.
16 I have sheep who that are not from this sheep corral;and
those it is necessary for me to lead;they will hear my call and they will become one flock
(with) one shepherd
17 Because of this, the Father loves mebecause I lay my life down, so I might take it (up)
again.
18 No one lifts it (away) from me,but I lay it down (away)
from myself.I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it (up) again.I received
this command from my Father
Bible Study/Meditation
Many of us in the baby-boomer generation can recall
learning, and reciting from memory, the 23rd Psalm: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want ... and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Though thousands
memorized this wonderful psalm it is doubtful how many actually gave any consideration as
to what it meant to have Jesus as our shepherd. This week's Gospel reading, and the
verses from John 10:1-21, begin to open up for us the significance of Jesus as
shepherd.
For the most part shepherds were not particularly esteemed in
the time of Jesus' life and ministry. As this passage indicates there were many that were
hirelings, irresponsible and unreliable, especially in the face of danger. But by
communicating this simple allegory Jesus elevates the role of shepherd to something
significant which we are to emulate.
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd which is in
contrast to the evil shepherd. The evil shepherd takes his responsibility for the sheep
lightly, and puts his own interests ahead of the sheep's well being. Whereas Jesus takes
this responsibility as shepherd very seriously, even to the point of dying to save the
sheep. He is devoted to their care and protection.
In a similar way the hireling does not own the sheep, he does
not know the sheep individually, and does not love the sheep, therefore he has no qualms
about abandoning the sheep in the face of peril. Jesus on the other hand, owns the sheep,
having bought us with his own blood. We are his prized possession. He also knows us
individually, and as the passage implies, calls us each by name. In this intimacy of
knowing and being known personally by Jesus there is great assurance and peace. In
addition he loves us with an everlasting love, even as the Father loves us. Consequently,
he brings all of his resources to bear to sustain our life and relationship with him. That
is why in the parable of the lost sheep the shepherd is so intent on finding the one that
is lost, because he knows the lost sheep personally and loves it deeply.
It is also important to note that the sheep respond
differently to the Good Shepherd than they do to the hireling. The hireling they do not
know, whereas Jesus they know. Some of us have been born into a Christian Catholic home
and have grown up with a vicarious relationship with Jesus based on the faith of our
parents. When a vicarious relationship is the sum and substance of our faith we often
cannot say that we "know" Jesus the Good Shepherd. For those of us who fall in
this category it is imperative that we personally embrace Jesus as our Savior. "This
is crucial: we must be converted-and we must continue to be converted! We must let the
Holy Spirit change our lives! We must respond to Jesus Christ." * This conversion
will enable us to be ever more confident in our relationship with Him.
When Jesus speaks the sheep listen to him. This passage
implies that the Good Shepherd is desirous of communicating with us, but also that we need
to listen to him. Very simply this means that when we hear the Scriptures read, read them
ourselves, pray, or listen to the Scriptures proclaimed we should not simply listen with
our ears, but endeavor to have our heart attuned, asking, "What is Jesus saying to
me?"
Having heard his voice the sheep follow him wherever he goes,
obeying his voice. As his followers this is where our faith becomes alive. It remains no
longer simply an intellectual tenet of faith, but becomes a belief that we act upon. Faith
and obedience are really one in the same. If you look at Hebrews 11 where is listed an
honor roll of faith filled believers, you will find that these heros' faith always is
expressed by obedient behavior. Our faith becomes alive and vibrant only as we follow the
Good Shepherd and respond to his leading in loving obedience. Only then do the truths of
Psalms 23 become a reality for us.
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you ?
. We are to shepherd in the same fashion, to sacrifice out
of love. We are to lead by giving of self for the good of others. More important, we are
to lead in a way that brings others to Christ and through Christ to the Father. So we can
lead in this fashion, we need to sacrifice self interest and ego. But the rewards of love
make that sacrifice worth the cost.
----What sacrifices have you had to make to lead others
to Christ? What sacrifices are you willing to make now? Look to the next week. Plan your
sacrifice for the good of others.
.The sheep recognize their shepherd by his voice. Can you hear Jesus' voice? In your daily life, how can you recognize and follow Jesus' voice among different voices around you? Do you think that you are safe in God's hands?
. Jesus called us for the unity of the world. It is a dream which every one of us can help Jesus to realize. Think of your family, relatives, friends and people around you. Do you willingly want to help them to hear, answer and obey only one "shepherd?" Do you consider this callingas "a means for service" or as "a career?"
. The image of the good shepherd remind us of the Church. Vatican II teaches "the Church is a shepherd, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ." Think of the many challenges the Church has to face in today's life and ask yourself what you can do to respond to the Church's call.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who keeps watch over our lives. May I be ever attentive to your voice and submit fully to your wise rule for my life. Draw me near to you that I may always find peace and joy in your presence