Fourth Sunday of Easter

(04/26/2026) Gospel Reading: John 6:22-29

 

“I Came That They May Have Life Abundantly”

 

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo

    Modern shepherds often control their sheep with dogs, horses, pick-up trucks or other advanced technological methods. Shepherds in the ancient world didn't have such methods and they guarded and guided their sheep themselves. Shepherds make their living caring for sheep and, since sheep require full time care, they were together almost constantly with their sheep. Old time shepherds gave each lamb its own name just as we give names to our pets. Like our pets recognize our voices and come running when we call them, unless they're cats, which are very independent, so also the sheep came running when their shepherds call them.

     Even though we do not see real sheep and shepherds very often, still the image of the good shepherd is one of the most comforting images in the Scriptures. The best remembered and loved psalm of all the 150 psalms is Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd.”  It symbolizes God's protection and care and guidance. But there are two sides to that coin. If He is to be our shepherd and protector, He expects that we will follow Him. We will hear His voice.

    A second image Jesus used in this weekend's Gospel is that He is the gate of the sheepfold. Whoever goes in and out through Him will be safe and find  pasture. Gates serve the same function as doors. Think of how important doors are. They let us in our homes where we find safety and family. They let us go out so we can meet friends or make a living or buy things we need or do something fun. They close out people who shouldn't be there. Jesus is telling us doors and gates are important, so is He. When He is part of our comings and goings, when we make Him central in our lives, when we ask His blessing on all our activities, our life will be secure and our happiness will be ensured.

    Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen if we follow Christ? If it were true that if we do everything God wants, God would do everything we want, church would be packed every week. We know there are rewards in this life when we stay faithful to Him. We certainly have tried to stay on God's good side and God has been very good to us, but as we all know bad things do happen to good people. Even many of Jesus' friends suffered, some were even tortured and put to death as Jesus was. But it's not just to protect us in this world that Jesus came. Jesus said “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” When people ask  why Jesus doesn't keep bad things from happening to those who are faithful to Him, perhaps one answer could be that life in this world is not where the abundant life really is. Even if we have looks, popularity, health, wealth, youth, wisdom and everything else our hearts desires, we don't “have it all.” We'll always feel some emptiness in our hearts, we'll never be totally satisfied, because our hearts were made for perfect union with God, and we won't know what that's like until we get to heaven.

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Meditation: Do you know the peace and security of the Good Shepherd who watches over his own? The Old Testament often speaks of God as shepherd of his people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people: He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd who will risk his life to seek out and save the stray sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4). He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).

The Good Shepherd and Guardian of our souls

What can shepherding teach us about God and our relationship with him? At the end of each day the shepherd brought his sheep into shelter. They knew the voice of their shepherd and came at his beckoning. So familiar was the shepherd and his sheep, that each was called by a distinct name. In the winter the sheep were usually brought to a communal village shelter which was locked and kept secure by a guardian. In the summer months the sheep were usually kept out in the fields and then gathered into a fold at night which was guarded by a shepherd throughout the night. He was literally the door through which the sheep had to pass.

The Scriptures describe God as a shepherd who brings security and peace to his people. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore (Psalm 120:8). Even the leaders of God's people are called shepherds: they shall lead them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd (Numbers 27:17). Just as a shepherd kept watch over his sheep and protected them from danger, so Jesus stands watch over his people as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). Do you know the peace and security of a life fully submitted to God?

Jesus willingly laid down his life for us - the sheep he ransomed with his own blood

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) writes: "He has accomplished what he taught us: He has shown us what He commanded us to do. He laid down his own life for his sheep, that within our mystery he might change his body and blood into food, and nourish the sheep he had redeemed with the food of his own flesh. He has shown us the way we must follow, despite fear of death. He has laid down the pattern to which we must conform ourselves. The first duty laid on us is to use our material goods in mercy for the needs of his sheep, and then, if necessary, give even our lives for them. He that will not give of his substance for his sheep, how shall he lay down his life for them?" (Tr. 46 in John). Do you look to Jesus the Good Shepherd, to receive the strength and courage you need to live and serve as his disciple?

Lord Jesus, you always lead me in the way of true peace and safety. May I never doubt your care nor stray from your ways. Keep me safe in the shelter of your presence.

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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