Heroic leadership

(John 10:11-18)

Every year for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the gospel text is taken from Chapter 10 of John, the discourse on the good shepherd. Our reading for year B is an interpretation of the short parable about the sheep who are called by name and who follow their shepherd whom they recognize.

They know Him

IN the original Palestinian setting, sheepfolds were enclosures fenced off by stones or briars at the outskirts of the village, and a village with a common sheepfold meant that at night all the sheep were corralled together and the shepherds take turn as guards or gatekeepers. To take the sheep to pasture in the morning, each shepherd would gather his own flock from the common herd. The sheep would be called by its name, and would respond only to the particular whistle or familiar call by its shepherd. Leading them, the shepherd went before his flock, and they would follow him because they knew his voice.

As the sheep recognize and follow their shepherd, so also those who know Jesus as their Lord and

savior follow him. But they have to be familiar to his voice and attentive to his words. That is why Christians do not gather together in the presence of the Lord in any celebration without the liturgy of the word. This is an irreplaceable level of interpersonal communication in any real and intimate relationship with Jesus. Also, any form of Christianity that is not shaped by the Gospel of Jesus would be insensitive to his vital teachings and a stranger to his true spirit.

He would lay down His life for them

A TRUE shepherd is willing to do all for his sheep. “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Such commitment cannot be expected of someone who is not a shepherd

Laying down his life for his sheep was exactly what Jesus did. He was committed for the salvation of humankind, and we have come to believe in him. “I know mine and mine know me.” In the context of this mutuality of gracious love and complete trust, Jesus insists that he lays down his life on his own; no one takes it from him.

(who has a personal relationship with the sheep), whose sheep are not his own (they do not relate with him either), because he is only a hireling (one who does the shepherding for money). Such a hired person works for pay and has no concern for the sheep, and when danger comes he thinks of himself first. Such false shepherds in the history of God’s flock Israel were painfully plentiful, leaders who really cared nothing for the flock but only for themselves.

Laying down his life for his sheep was exactly what Jesus did. He was committed for the salvation of humankind, and we have come to believe in him. “I know mine and mine know me.” In the context of this mutuality of gracious love and complete trust, Jesus insists that he lays down his life on his own; no one takes it from him. Jesus was not a helpless victim but a freely sacrificing savior. And he has the power to lay it down and the power to take it up again. The whole Paschal Mystery of his death and glorious resurrection and ascension make up the one indissoluble act of carrying out the plan of his Father who loves him as he lays down his life in order to take it up again. The same love of the Father and the Son is for all humanity, hence Jesus must also lead “other sheep that do not belong to this fold.” He must take them all home with him to the Father.

Alálaong bagá, so much revolves around the shepherd, when we talk of the welfare of the flock. To have one flock and one shepherd, it is necessary for all to know the one shepherd, listening to his voice and following him, even as the good shepherd inspires the flock with his radical commitment and integrity. We pray that we may have always such good shepherds in the format of Jesus to look after the welfare of the flock. May we be blessed with leaders, both spiritual and civil, who are capable of heroic leadership, transcending selfish interests and sacrificing themselves to put first the people of God.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.