Christ the Cornerstone

Like the Good Shepherd, bring the gift of eternal life to all

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In the Gospel reading from John, Jesus says:

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. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. (Jn 10:27-30)

The image of a shepherd and the flock entrusted to his care is a prominent theme in the New Testament. Jesus uses this image to describe his relationship with his followers. He also takes this opportunity to establish clearly that his ministry as the pastor bonum (good shepherd) flows from the relationship between Jesus and his Heavenly Father.

Those who have chosen to follow Jesus, and to carry on his saving mission, are both sheep who follow Christ the Good Shepherd and shepherds who tend his flock. This dual responsibility is what characterizes missionary disciples of Jesus Christ as those who have given themselves wholeheartedly in devotion to their Lord and in service to God’s people.

This dual responsibility of devotion to Jesus and service to his people was illustrated powerfully in the Gospel reading for last weekend, the Third Sunday of Easter (Jn 21:1-19). Recall the story of the Risen Jesus’ confrontation with Peter:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:15-17)

Any disciple who claims to love Jesus must demonstrate this concretely through works of mercy and pastoral care. Words alone are not enough. Jesus demands that St. Peter (and, therefore, his successors) “feed my sheep.”

And, in fact, all who seek to follow Jesus whether as ordained clergy, consecrated religious, or lay people have a responsibility that flows from their baptism to share in the Church’s pastoral mission. We show our love for Jesus when we “feed his sheep” by caring for the spiritual and temporal needs of all his sisters and brothers in the one family of God.

Jesus the Good Shepherd tells us that what he alone can give his flock is “eternal life.” This profound truth is illustrated in the second reading from the Book of Revelation, where we are shown the vision of “a great multitude which no one could count from every nation, race, people and tongue” (Rv 7:9).

St. John the Evangelist identifies this diverse crowd as all those who have been washed clean “in the blood of the Lamb” (Rv 7:14). This is an image of what happens to all of us who have been baptized into the death of Jesus, the Paschal Lamb:

For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rv 7:15-17)

We who follow Jesus, who is both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins, are given the great gift of eternal life, but we dare not accept this gift passively or indifferently. We must share it with everyone we meet.

We, too, must be shepherds of God’s love and goodness. Like Paul and Barnabas in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 13:14, 43-52), we must be missionary disciples who proclaim with our words and actions: “For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the Earth” (Acts 13:47).

As we continue our observance of this season of Easter joy, let’s recommit ourselves to following Jesus the Good Shepherd. And let’s demonstrate our love for him by feeding his sheep. †