Homilies & Reflections
4th Sunday of Easter, Year B by Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior
1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12 / Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1, 8-9.21-23.26, 28-29 (R. 22) 2nd Reading: I John 3:1-2 / Gospel Acclamation: Jn. 10:14 / Gospel: John 10:11-18
THEME: LAY IT DOWN
Etymologically, Shepherd is a combination of two words: Sheep and Herder/Herdsman. It refers to the person who tends or cares for sheep; one who is a guide, leader, pastor. Shepherding presupposes sheep, i.e. followers, the ruled. In nomadic societies, caring for flocks is a common[1]place phenomenon. Today, we are invited to imitate the leadership style of Jesus the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Rather than feed on the sheep, he feeds them. Also, it is a day to offer special prayers for Priests and Religious, for priestly and religious vocations. In a world where a significant number of people regard leadership as a license for self[1]aggrandisement, popularity and to wield power in order to intimidate others, the liturgical readings exhort us to reject such stance so we can embrace the servant-leadership of Jesus Christ.
In the first reading, the once coward, unschooled Galilean fisherman Peter, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, speaks courageously without fear or favour to an audience so powerful, wealthy, influential and intellectual – people who had condemned his Master, Jesus, to death. He criticises the action of the 71-member Jewish Authority, that is, the Supreme Court of the Jews, also called the Sanhedrin, headed by the high priest and which includes Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, elders of the people and ex-high priests (chief priests). Particularly, Peter states: “…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man [cripple] is standing before you well (Acts 4:10). He states further: “This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11). And this is the subject on which the Psalmist harps in the Responsorial Psalm today (cf. Ps. 118:22).
Beloved in Christ, the courage, conviction, firmness and influence of Peter are good leadership qualities. They are didactic and testimony that the resurrection power can change our lives for the better. So, Peter adds: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The Sanhedrin were afraid of losing their social status, but Peter was unafraid to put his life on the line. Like Jesus, he had learnt how to lay down his life for God and for the welfare and security of others. These are virtues which opens us to the fullness of life – a trait every good shepherd or leader must have.
The subject of laying down one’s life for others is taken up again by Jesus in the Gospel when he says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). The phrases Lays down, I lay down my life and (I) lay it down occur not less than five times in the Gospel pericope. It shows the strong emphasis Jesus puts on the role of the shepherd or leader. To lay down his life, the good shepherd must be selfless. He must know his sheep, not just intellectual knowledge but also experiential knowledge, of his sheep. According to Pope Francis, shepherds must let their flock smell them and they too must smell their sheep. That is empathy, availability and service. He must protect, care for them, look for the strayed and the other sheep that have separated themselves from the fold so that there will be one flock, one shepherd. King David graphically describes these virtues in his famous Psalm 23, where the providential Shepherd-God makes him lack nothing, leads him to green pastures and quiet streams of water to revive his drooping spirit. On the right path, and even in the valley of the shadows of death, there is no fear because of the availability and ever-abiding presence of the shepherd. There is food to eat even in the midst of foes. There is overflowing anointing marked by never-ending goodness and kindness in the house of the shepherd who is the almighty God. These are the qualities leaders are to possess, and the characteristic traits which differentiate the good and the bad, the authentic and the false, and the faithful and the unfaithful shepherd. Indeed, our homes, families, societies, churches, institutions and politics are in need of such qualities. So, we should pray earnestly for quality vocations that would inspire good leadership and integrity.
Unfortunately, it is pathetic to learn that the direct opposite of such laudable qualities is what is obtainable in our modern world. Many leaders look for power and authority not to serve but to be served. We have ‘stomach’ politicians and leaders almost everywhere. Some of them are illegally richer than the institutions they oversee. Their main concern is to use their influence to protect their vested interests before all else, just like the Jewish authorities, who, in order to retain the status quo for their own benefits, would neither listen to the truth themselves nor give anyone else a chance to hear it. In some parts of the world, particularly in Africa, it is really hard to see the dividends of democracy. Our people are generally religious, but, the virtues of religion have not been translated adequately into our social life. We still witness high cases of unofficial and official corruption at all levels and dimensions of life. It has even become the norm. The result is that, monies meant for development and social amenities end up in individuals’ private pockets. Rather than create an enabling environment for equal opportunities, we observe injustices and an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor, ruler and the ruled and the gentry and hoi polloi.
Furthermore, in the church of Christ, which is metaphorically and particularly the sheep Jesus speaks about, we face the double tragedy of attack from within and without. Christians are being persecuted and attacked by ravenous wolves. Also, there are false shepherds in Christianity who see their calling as a profession not a vocation, a career not a service, a money/profit-making venture not a sacrifice, and a duty/function not a loving, selfless assistance. To remedy the situation, Jesus tells us to learn from him by laying down our lives for one another and for him.
So, what will be the reward of laying down our lives for each other? In the second reading, we are told: “See what love the father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him” (I Jn. 3:1-2). This is the beatific vision, when we shall see God panim el panim (face to face). This is the original plan of God for us when he created us in his own image and likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26). We shall be like him. This is our aim as believers, and we must make it our daily goal to live not merely as creatures of God but children of God. This is possible when we live in love, and show care and concern for one another. In God, we see ourselves as one family since he is the source from which we come and to whom we tend. When we live as brothers and sisters, we will do everything possible to break down the barriers of division and marginalisation. It is costly to lay down our lives. However, that is the way our Master Jesus went, and that is the price we must pay in meeting our goal of experiencing the beatific vision. Lay it down, for a day will come, when we will take it up again. Remember the words of Jesus: “For anyone who wants to save his life, will lose it, and anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it (Lk. 9:24). This is the assurance Christ gives us.
On this day, Good Shepherd Sunday/Vocation Sunday, let us pray to God to inspire and imbue in us the virtues of good leadership based on love, selfless service and responsibility towards one another. May God touch our hearts to be good leaders ourselves as we work assiduously to make others such as politicians and all who seek offices of influence in society, responsible, faithful and good servants. Happy Sunday and remember to: #Lay-It-Down# May God richly bless us.
By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp