11 May 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Easter ‘C’
Acts 13:14...52; Rev 7:9...17; Jn 10:27-30
H O M E L Y
The people of Israel, after having been a small nomadic tribe, had become a sedentary people. In this sedentary culture, the role of the shepherd protecting his flock from wild animals and guiding them in search of food and water was very important. The prophets of the Old Testament often used this image of the ‘shepherd’ to describe God's care for his people. In the short passage from the Gospel we have just read, the main sentence, the one that gives the key to understanding everything that has gone before, is the last one: ‘The Father and I are one,’ says Jesus. He is the true shepherd.
Even though most of us no longer live in a culture where it is common to see a shepherd guiding his flock of sheep, it is not difficult for us to understand the message conveyed by the use of this image.
The Church is the community of all those who have put their faith in Christ—those who have heard His voice and want to follow Him. The pastor of the Church is Jesus of Nazareth, still alive among us because we are gathered in His name. It is His Word that we listen to, it is Him we follow. We are under His protection. This is true of the universal Church, as well as of each local community which, together in communion with one another, constitutes the universal Mystery of the Church. This is true of a diocese, a parish, or a monastic community such as ours.
The Church is therefore all of us and all those throughout the world who have placed their faith in Jesus of Nazareth. Within this Church there are, of course, people who have been given various responsibilities and ministries; there are, for example, the Pope, the bishops and the priests. The Church is not them; the Church is all of us — including those in positions of responsibility. Some, because of the ministry they have to fulfil, are given the title of ‘pastors’. But the only ‘true shepherd’ is the one who says, in today's Gospel: ‘I am the true shepherd.’ It seems to me that these words are meant to encourage us and prevent us from losing confidence.
The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, which tells us about the great mission of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia, tells us the story of two witnesses who actually heard the voice of Jesus, followed him, and went to bear witness to his Gospel to the Jews and pagans of Antioch. The persecution they suffered at the hands of the local Jews did not stop them, and they continued to preach the Good News to the pagans. Moreover, Luke, the author of the Acts, presents Paul and Barnabas‘ visit to the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia as parallel to Jesus’ visit to the synagogue in Nazareth at the beginning of his ministry. In both cases, the decision to spread the message of salvation to all nations after first presenting it to the Jews is affirmed.
Thus was formed this immense, innumerable crowd of witnesses from all corners of the world—witnesses who live on forever through their faith in Christ, despite the tears and sufferings they endured.
Let each of us strive today to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, to let ourselves be filled with the joy of being known by Him, to follow Him, discovering the personal vocation that each of us has received to be His witness wherever He has called us.
Armand VEILLEUX