4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR C)

1st Reading                   Acts 13: 14, 43-52

Psalm                              100: 1-2, 3, 5 (R. 3c)

R:// "We are his people, the sheep of his flock"

2nd Reading                 Revelation 7: 9, 14b-17

Gospel                            John 10: 27-30

LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

Friends, today is the 4th Sunday of Easter (Year C). Today is also the celebration of Mothers' Day. We wish and pray for all mothers. More interesting is the fact that the 4th Sunday of Easter has been earmarked as Good Shepherd Sunday. Talking about Shepherd, this Sunday is also called Vocations Sunday. 

The Gospel passage for this Sunday is very short; a text of 4 verses. However, it is very heavy in understanding. On every 4th Sunday of Easter, the Gospel passage is taken from John 10 as that portion delves into the issue of Shepherd with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Today's text is from John 10: 27-30. The text draws on the relationship between SHEEP and SHEPHERD. The word Shepherd does not explicitly appear in today’s passage but could be glimpsed because one who keeps, feeds, and guides SHEEP is a SHEPHERD. Shepherding is a very ancient economic activity in Israel. Being a Shepherd is a full-time job. It cannot be done alongside other jobs due to the complexity of care given to these animals. How complex is that care?

The work of a Shepherd runs throughout the day and into the night. During the day, the Shepherd protects the sheep and finds pasture for them to feed. At night, he leads them into the sheepfold to be protected. Sometimes, the immediate quest for protection during the night makes the shepherd look for a cave or a simple place to put the animals together. Such places do not have gates. Therefore, the Shepherd sleeps at the gate to guard the animals. He, therefore, becomes the gate to the sheepfold. As a full-time job, being a Shepherd is a possibility of losing contact with one's family. Travelling far with animals and returning after days makes you give much focus to the animals. This is corroborated by the fact that the possession of animals is a sign of wealth. 

Sometimes, 2 shepherds keep their sheep in the same sheepfold at night. When day breaks, how do they identify their sheep, especially when there are no distinctive marks to show the differences? It is simply by the VOICE of the shepherd. The Shepherd may stand at a distance and voice out in a familiar way to the Sheep, and those that belong to him will immediately come to his side. This means that there is familiarity on both sides. That is what forms the core of Jesus' statement, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (Jn. 10: 27). Taking the world as the Sheepfold with a diversity of sheep and with sheep that closely resemble each other, the only proper way to know what sheep belong to Jesus is the sheep that hears Jesus' voice and follows him. 

The issue is that Jesus is described as being the GOOD SHEPHERD (Jn. 10: 11a). The definition of a Good Shepherd is "one who lays down his life for the sheep" (Jn. 10: 11b). What does it mean to "lay down" one's life? This phrase recalls young David who literally risked his life for his sheep (1 Sam. 17: 34-37). Instead of the sheep being put at risk, the shepherd gives his life. That is a replacement. The Shepherd also has the duty of looking for food for them even by going to the uttermost and most dangerous places to feed them. The sheep going there by themselves is a dangerous endeavour because they can be attacked by animals or stolen. The loss of a sheep is a reduction in wealth. 

Let us look at the first reading from Acts 13: 14, 43-52. In the first reading, we shall come to know what the VOICE of the Shepherd consists of. Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch of Pisidia and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. They will go again on another Sabbath. This means that they spent close to 2 weeks in Antioch of Pisidia. As the custom is, the LAW and the PROPHETS were read [vv. 15-42]. Our text does not include that portion, but it is necessary we mention that because it is what brings a consequence in the first reading. 

Reading from the LAW and the PROPHETS sounds interesting. The Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) is divided into three parts — the LAW (Torah), the PROPHETS (Nevi'im), and the WRITINGS (Ketubim). What it means is that, on the Sabbath in the Synagogue, the Word of God was read. The Word of God is the VOICE of God. God has spoken to them in the Scriptures. 

The problem is that although they all heard the Voice of God (the Word of God) read out to them, someone has to explain it for them in clear and relatable terms. Paul did that, and the consequence is that "many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God" ( Acts 13: 43). There is a need for someone to explain that VOICE to them. That is precisely what the Shepherd does. Through him, the VOICE of God is made available in clear terms to the sheep of God's pasture. Paul's work is met with acceptance by Jews and devout converts to Judaism. 

On another Sabbath, instead of acceptance, there is rejection by the Jews of the Word of God (the Voice of God) explained to the people. However, the Gentiles were happy and received it. Paul tells the Jews something fascinating. He said, "It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13: 46). The issue is that they thrust from them the WORD OF GOD (the voice of God). The word for thrust is ἀπωθέομαι (apōtheomai), and it means to push away, drive away, or refuse to listen to. The pushing or driving away is usually with force. This means it is done willingly. Their action made them reject eternal life. The question is: If you are pushing away the Voice of God, what are you going to listen to? Invariably, it is your own voice you want to listen to. Know, however, that it is the Shepherd who knows the path to the greener pastures. As a sheep, yours is to listen to that Shepherd.

The Voice of the Shepherd is the Word of God. In the Word of God, we hear the Shepherd calling out to us just to lead us to eternal life, where there is food in abundance. Will you listen to him, count yourself as his own, and be led there, or you will refuse to listen and reject the gift of eternal life? Whatever the case, your attitude of acceptance or rejection of the Word of God (the voice of God) will speak about your stance.

Pax et Bonum