Jn 10:27-30
Dear Friends. The Easter triumph of love gives us hope no matter where life leads us in its twisting journey. The Easter Season calls us to become an Alleluia People, people immersed in the hope flowing from the Risen Christ. For us, personally and as a faith community, Easter is an encounter with the triumph of love over all that is evil. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the decisive sign that nothing can overcome the love of God.
Today’ gospel displays this hope is in the role of Jesus as our Shepherd. This pastoral theme is in each of the Church’s cycles on the fourth Sunday of Easter. The image of the Shepherd draws us deeper into the Easter mystery.
The Easter message is one we grow into. We do not get it all at once. It is an incremental, step-by-step process. Our life experience is critical to making this great event of the resurrection meaningful for each of us. The Easter Season is a personal invitation to take that next step. We can only move forward from where we are. This is why today’s image of the Shepherd is so beautiful. Jesus is with us to protect and to guide us. In Jesus our Shepherd, we have the assurance of the deepest truth and the most authentic love. This is the call to be people of the Alleluia.
Jesus tells us, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me…no one can take them out of the Father’s hands.” (Jn 10:27-28) Jesus has our back no matter what the circumstances!
Jesus, as the Shepherd, offers us both security and guidance. This relationship is to one who shelters us and directs us. It touches a deep hunger in our heart. True self-knowledge of our brokenness leads us to long for deliverance. We want to cast off the ambiguity and confusion of our reality. We yearn for safety and clarity. Jesus, as our Shepherd, addresses that ache in our hearts. Jesus the Shepherd invites to know him by walking in his path. His voice sets us free from the crippling ambivalence and fear. He directs us with a caring presence in the midst of the daily wolves of violence, division, ignorance and injustice that are a constant threat to us.
Jesus, as our Shepherd, nurtures our sense of hope in this Easter Season. Jesus has shown us that there is no earthly power, no matter how dominant or seemingly invincible, that can overcome God’s love. This is the Easter message. This love becomes personal for us in the Shepherd. This love generates the Easter reality. It is our passage into eternal life when we are following our Shepherd. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (Jn 10: 27)
Today’s gospel compels us to receive the protection and accept the direction of our Shepherd. It gives us hope leading to life eternal beginning now when we follow the Shepherd in our daily life.
We need to ask ourselves, are we open to this gift? Do we hear the voice of Jesus in our daily experience and responsibilities? Do we really accept, embrace and celebrate the wonder of the Alleluia which is our invitation into the great event of love that is the Risen Christ? When our yes to the Good Shepherd is true and honest we are on the way to becoming an Alleluia People.
