4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR C)

1st Reading       Acts 13:14,43–52

Resp. Psalm      Ps. 100: 3b

2nd Reading     Rev. 7:9,14b–17

Gospel                Jn. 10:27–30

Two Key Features of a Good Sheep, a Good Disciple

Happy Sunday! We are still in the season of Easter and today we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. We thank God for giving us Shepherds (leaders) to whose care we have been entrusted. The image of the Good Shepherd is clear in Christ who laid down his life for us.

The Gospel is very short. Inspite of its brevity, it is dense with messages to help us attain blessed happiness. 

We can understand the text within a broader scope from vv. 22-30. Here, some Jews supposed to have been wondering whether Jesus is the Messiah asked if he is actually the one. These Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah even when Jesus said it (v. 25). They cannot reconcile their belief in Jesus with the works of Jesus as testimony that he is the Messiah (v. 27).

I suggest that Jesus gives two explicit characteristics of a Sheep that belongs to him, his Sheep. Who then can be counted as Jesus' Sheep? What features do we need to possess to be counted as disciples, as Sheep of Jesus? The image of a Sheep is that of a Disciple (mathētēs), a student or a learner.

The Sheep HEAR (akouō). This is to combat the Jews who do not believe on account of their inability to pay attention to what Jesus said about himself and even what his works testify about him. One danger is that we can simply sideline what Jesus says. 

A disciple is not deaf, he perceives by the ear what is announced. If you like, a disciple LISTENS and LEARNS. He or she properly uses the EAR and that affects his being. 

Secondly, A Sheep FOLLOWS (akolouthousin). The Sheep do not only listen to the voice (PHŌNÉ) of their Shepherd, but they follow. It is one thing to hear and learn. To be a good Sheep, a good disicple, entails practice, of doing that which you have learnt. We may not become good Christians if we do not practice what we hear and learn in Sacred Scripture. 

The Sheep follow the Shepherd because with him is protection, with him is plentiful redemption. With the Shepherd there is good leadership to a better end. 

Today, as we step out we pray that we will always be conscious of the fact that "we are his people [God's people], the Sheep of his flock" (Ps. 100: 3b), and we have the duty to listen and learn, discern and follow Christ, the Good Shepherd if only we want to attain blessed happiness. 

Pax et Bonum.