Good Shepherd Sunday | Fourth Sunday Of Easter | Sunday Reflection

“Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me… No one can take them out of my hand.’” Growing up in Nigeria, there were several instances where I encountered herdsmen skillfully pasturing and pastoring their herd of cows. It was always fascinating to witness how these herdsmen almost certainly know each individual members of their herd. They do not give them pet names, but they have a way of communicating with them and these cows do exactly what they were commanded. Trying to figure out how the seeming supernatural communication worked always eluded us. It was as if the herdsmen could speak the language of cows, or put differently, the cows perfectly hear and understand the voice of the shepherds, the herdsmen. They know the shepherds and follow them, and literarily, no one can take them or sway them away from the shepherds unless the shepherds allow it. There is so much connection and communication between them that they understand each other perfectly.

We hear from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John this Sunday, about the Good Shepherd – which is why every Fourth Sunday of Easter is called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In this Gospel today, Jesus, a True and Good Shepherd, authoritatively tells his audience that, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” He speaks of his relationship with his flock with such certainty that those who belong to him know and hear his voice. He is so in-tune with his flock that he knows them individually, and we can say as Pope Francis said, that Jesus smells like his flock. But unlike the herdsmen that I observed back home, Jesus is the Good Shepherd that can give life, his life, eternal and everlasting life to his flock so that they shall never perish.

It takes a very dedicated herdsman to be willing to give his life for his herd. He would rather preserve his life believing that he is worth more than his cows. But during this season of Easter, we are celebrating a Shepherd, a Good Shepherd, a Pastor that gave his life for the life and salvation of his flock. He is the Bonus Pastor who deems the life of his sheep to be so precious and worth everything, and so, worth preserving. That is why he endured his passion, was crucified and died, went down to the netherworld to give life to those under death’s domain and rose on the third day, granting a share of his resurrection to every human being, every member of his flock. As Pope Francis would say, “for Jesus Christ, I am important, irreplaceable, worth the infinite price of his life.”

The Opening Prayer for Mass this Sunday reads, “Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before.” This is the prayer of the Universal Church today, seeking to join with the Triumphant Church in praising the Lamb, the Good Shepherd who was slain for us, in whose blood we are washed, as we read in the Second Reading. Jesus, the Lamb, the Good Shepherd, “who is in the center of the throne will shepherd [us] and lead [us] to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes.” That is what we celebrate this Easter season. That is why he is the Good Shepherd.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI established this Sunday as World Day of Prayer for Vocations; a day we specially pray for increase in the vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate, and consecrated life. I invite us all to particularly pray today that good young men may listen attentively to the call of Christ in their hearts to dedicate their lives to the service of God and be configured to Jesus the Good Shepherd, as ordained Catholic priests and permanent deacons. I also invite you to earnestly pray for good young women to discern the voice of God in their hearts to consider serving God and His Church through the various charisms of the Church in the consecrated life. More importantly, I invite you this week, to consider speaking to just one young person you know, to think about a possible vocation to priesthood, permanent diaconate or consecrated life. God has not stopped calling men to priestly vocation and women to consecrated life. It is us who have allowed ourselves to be distracted by other worldly distractions constantly begging for our attention. My bishop will always say, every man is called to be a father, either a reverend father, that is a priest, or a father of a priest. That can be you!

Today, the American Church celebrates Mother’s Day, a day dedicated to honor and express appreciation to all those in the vocation of motherhood, for their impact in families and society, for their sacrifices, guidance, and love, particularly for their role in raising children. It is a day to recognize motherhood and maternal bonds. So as we pray for and wish all mothers, especially those here with us today, God’s choicest blessings, we pray for our mother, the Church and her new shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, that as the mission of the Church continues, especially of evangelization, the Church under the guidance of the Vicar of Christ may continue to missionize in the same way that a loving mother speaks to her child, knowing that the child trusts that what she is teaching is for his or her benefit.

May our Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Christ, and Mother of the Church continue to intercede for us, now and at the hour of our death, Amen!

Thank you for your vocation!