Acts 2:14, 36–41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20–25; John 10:1–10
The Good Shepherd and the Danger of False Prophets
Dear friends, today the Church celebrates the Fourth Sunday of Easter, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In the Gospel, Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd and outlines the essential qualities that define authentic spiritual leadership. It is also the Sunday on which the Church reflects on and prays for Christian vocations. The word “vocation,” from the Latin vocatio, means a calling—a call from God to a particular state of life, most commonly marriage or consecrated celibacy.
A vocation is not merely a profession or career choice. While careers can change, a vocation demands a stable, lifelong commitment. Because of this, it requires serious discernment, proper formation, and maturity. Those who are called—whether to marriage or to religious life—are entrusted with the responsibility of becoming shepherds to others. Their lives must be credible witnesses. Children, especially, learn more from what they see than from what they are told. Where there is no good example, confusion follows.
Our society today is experiencing a deficit of credible witnesses. The consequences are evident. When adults fail to live responsibly, the younger generation loses confidence in the very idea of maturity and commitment. One day a young girl witnessed her parents arguing and howling insults to each other. Later when she was alone with the mother she told her: “Mom, I do not want to be an adult,”. This is an existential crisis: a loss of trust in those who are meant to guide.
Against this background, the image of the Good Shepherd becomes even more urgent. Jesus contrasts Himself with thieves and robbers. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, calls them by name, and leads them from the front. He does not manipulate, exploit, or abandon them. His authority is rooted in truth, sacrifice, and genuine care. He ultimately lays down His life for the sheep.This model stands in sharp contrast to a growing phenomenon in our time: the rise of false prophets and deceptive spiritual leaders. These are not merely misguided individuals; they represent a serious distortion of the Gospel itself. Instead of leading people to Christ, they lead people to themselves. Instead of truth, they offer appealing falsehoods to extort money from the vulnerable rich and desperate poor.
Many of these false prophets preach a “gospel” that excludes the cross. They promise immediate prosperity, effortless success, and guaranteed solutions to life’s struggles. Suffering is portrayed as a sign of weak faith rather than a reality that can have redemptive value when united with Christ. This is a fundamental departure from the teaching of Christ, who clearly said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must take up his cross and follow me” (cf. Matthew 16:24).
The damage caused by such false teaching is not theoretical; it is concrete and visible. Individuals are misled into unrealistic expectations about life and faith. When the promised miracles fail to materialize, they experience disillusionment, guilt, and even loss of faith. Families are affected as well. Financial exploitation, often disguised as “seed offerings” or “special blessings,” places heavy burdens on already vulnerable households. In some cases, relationships break down because faith has been reduced to emotional manipulation rather than grounded conviction.
The commercialization of religion has intensified this problem. Faith is increasingly presented as a product to be marketed. Miracles are advertised, testimonies are staged, and digital platforms are used to expand influence without accountability. In this environment, anyone can claim spiritual authority without formation, without oversight, and without fidelity to the teaching of the Church. This is precisely what Jesus warns against when He speaks of thieves who come “only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
In contrast, the early Church, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles, grew through authentic witness. Peter and the apostles did not rely on manipulation or spectacle. They proclaimed Christ crucified and risen, and their lives reflected that truth. Their credibility drew people to conversion because what they preached was visible in how they lived.
The second reading reinforces this point by presenting Christ as the model: “When He suffered, He did not threaten… by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:23–24). The path of Christ is not one of avoidance of suffering, but of faithful endurance and redemptive love. Any message that systematically removes this dimension is not the Gospel.
For this reason, discernment is not optional; it is necessary. Matters of faith concern the salvation of souls and cannot be approached casually. Not every preacher is a shepherd, and not every message is truth. The faithful must evaluate what they hear against the teaching of Christ and the Church. Authentic shepherds lead people toward truth, responsibility, discipline, and a deeper relationship with God—not toward dependency, fear, or financial exploitation.
Each of us, in our own context, is also called to reflect the qualities of the Good Shepherd. Parents, priests, catechists, and leaders must recognize that their example either builds or destroys faith in others. Integrity of life is not secondary; it is essential.
Today’s Gospel presents a clear choice: to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd or to be misled by strangers. The voice of Christ is consistent, truthful, and life-giving. He Himself declares, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). This abundance, however, is not superficial prosperity; it is the fullness of life rooted in truth, sacrifice, and communion with God.
The question is not abstract. It is immediate and practical: Are we listening to the voice of the true Shepherd, or are we being influenced by voices that distort His message? And what concrete steps are we willing to take to safeguard our faith, our families, and our communities?
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 