Acts 4:8-12; Ps 118; 1 Jn:1-2; Jn 10:11-18
The Good Shepherd
Dear friends, today is the fourth Sunday of Easter, which is also known as the Good Shepheard Sunday or Vocations Sunday. The Church today celebrates the vocations of Priesthood, Religious life, and Married life. The emphasis on this Sunday is placed on the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life because the harvest continues to increase but the laborers are getting fewer. However, without families that are strong in faith, we cannot get vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It is therefore paramount that we emphasize also the importance of married life.
In the Gospel today, Jesus presents himself as a good shepherd who is very concerned about his sheep. He juxtaposes the good shepherd with a hired hand whose main concern is not the safety of the sheep but the salary. Jesus is the shepherd who was not afraid to lay down his life for his sheep. This is the stone that was rejected by the Jews yet, as Peter tells them, has become the cornerstone. Parents as well as religious leaders have the same role of shepherding the children of God. The parents are supposed to make sure that their children get quality nourishment in body, soul, and intellect. Religious leaders are supposed to provide quality spiritual nourishment for the people.
In Jesus, the amazing love of God is made manifest to the whole world. He has made us his children through the suffering, death, and resurrection of his beloved son. Eventually, those who believe in him and live according to his will shall become like him. This same love of God is supposed to manifest itself in parents, priests, and religious.
The Church is missionary to the core. All the baptized are sent to be missionaries to others by preaching the good news of the Kingdom by word and deeds. The missionary priests and religious are more specifically sent to raise children for the kingdom of God. The parents are sent to procreate in collaboration with God. Good preparation is very critical so that those who embrace these vocations can overcome the many challenges involved. We have so much quitting in marriage, priesthood, and religious life today. People who love their vocations are pushed out because they do not have the tools or enough training to fight on. The devil and its agents push us to fall under our own weight because he has no power to remove us from our vocations. He frustrates us and makes us doubt ourselves so that we can quit. My dear friends, stick in there and you will see that the devil and his agents have no power over you?
A good priest, religious, or parent has a genuine concern for the flock and is ready to lay down his or her life for them. The good shepherd is not afraid of the wolves who threaten the lives of the sheep. These wolves come disguised either as part of the flock or like shepherds seeking the opportune time to devour the sheep. The good shepherd always tells the truth to his sheep, giving them opportunities to learn from their mistakes so that they can grow. I have seen religious leaders and couples who behave like referees in a football match. They always run all over the field looking for mistakes and when they see one, they whistle, penalize, and even send away the players. A good shepherd is the one who treats the sick and returns to the flock the stray ones.
People contract marriage to become shepherds of the children they bring to the world. Parents are called to be shepherds who feed their families both physically and spiritually and provide security for them. However, there are cases of parents who have become monsters towards their children. This points to a serious lack of preparation and training before marriage and accompaniment in the marriage journey. Too many people live in unnecessary suffering in marriages because they do not prepare well or have nowhere to nourish themselves. However, in the Church, there are opportunities and provisions to repair any brokenness through the Sacraments, the Word, Small Christian Communities, and pastoral groups. If we stay away from the source of grace, soon we will lack it and the challenges will overwhelm us. Do not be afraid to seek help.
As we celebrate and promote vocations in the Church, let us also pay close attention to what happens every day in our missions and families and raise the alarm before it is too late. At the personal level, let us ask ourselves whether we are caring and fighting for our vocations or quit because of frustrations.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 