THE SHEPHERD AND OUR CHRISTIAN VOCATION
Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

1 Reading: Acts of the Apostles  13: 14, 43-52
Psalm: We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
2 Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14b–17
Gospel: John 10: 27-38

This Sunday liturgy carries the themes of the Good Shepherd and Vocations Day. It is by no means coincidental that these themes lead us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus, with our priests and with one another.

Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, emphasizing  the self-sacrificing element in his own life: “The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.” He contrasts the good shepherd who owns the sheep to someone who is simply hired to look after them. The hired man thinks primarily of his own welfare and, if he sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep to be attacked and scattered in fear and terror.  Jesus, on the other hand, says: “I lay down my life for my sheep.”  Jesus contrasts himself with religious leaders who do just what is expected of them but have no real commitment or sense of responsibility to those in their charge.

Secondly, we recognize the mutual bond of love and intimacy that relates the shepherd with the sheep. That love is compared to the deep mutual relationship that exists between Jesus and his Father. “My own know me just as the Father knows me.” Again the hired man or the self-interested leader will not have such a relationship with his charges. The Second Reading speaks in similar terms when the writer says, “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children, and that is what we are.”

Thirdly, the good shepherd deeply desires that many other sheep should come to identify themselves with him. “There are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well.” The ultimate goal is that “there will be only one flock, and one shepherd”, that the whole world will be united together with its God and Lord. This is the meaning of the Kingdom which is at the heart of the Gospel message.

In giving his life for his sheep, Jesus did  so of his own will. It is not just by force of circumstances. His death is to be the living proof that “the greatest love a person can show is to give one’s life for one’s friends”. This is proof enough that Jesus truly is a Good Shepherd.   We ask ourselves:  Have we allowed the Good Shepherd to guide us?  What is my relationship with Jesus, the  Good Shepherd?  When lost, do I allow the Good Shepherd to lead me to  green pastures?

This is intimately linked with the second theme of this Sunday. Not only is it Good Shepherd Sunday, it is also “Vocations Sunday”. On this day we are especially asked first of all to pray that the Church may be provided with the leaders needed to do its work of spreading the Gospel.

We know that at the present time there is a critical shortage of such leaders, at least in the traditional sense – priests and religious. But, while we may earnestly pray that our Church be supplied with the leaders it needs, there can be a tendency among us to pray that OTHERS may answer that call. We do not see ourselves as included. We may pray earnestly for more young people to offer themselves as priests and religious but clearly exclude our own children.

But the problem is a wider one. We have for too long given a much too narrow meaning to the word ‘vocation’. We tend to limit it to a calling to be a priest or a member of a religious institute. But, in fact, every one of us has a vocation. For most of us, probably, it is what we are now doing be it as spouses, parents, teachers, doctors, civil servants, running a business, salespersons… or whatever.  And so, this leads us to reflect: Is what I am spending my energies on every day my real vocation? Is this what God wants me to be doing with my life? How is what I am doing giving witness to my Christian faith?  What contribution am I offering in making this world a better place for people to live in?  To what extent am I a spreader of truth, of love, of justice, of freedom, of tolerance and acceptance…?

God calls each one of us to work for the Gospel. For some,  it may be as a priest or religious – and that call can come at any time in one’s life.  But there are hundreds of other ways of serving the Church and helping to build up the Christian community. Where is God calling me to make my own unique contribution based on the particular talents God has given me?  If each one us were to answer that question sincerely and act upon it, our Church would have all the leadership she needs.