April 21, 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

   “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). This is what Jesus literally did at Easter time, his Passover was to change everyone’s life and death. Already in his time of proclamation of the coming of God’s Kingdom, Jesus was promising eternal life to those who believe in him, but it was hardly understood, as we had seen with the disciples not being able to recognize that the Passion, Crucifixion and Death were necessary way of achieving the goal of the Resurrection. The Apostles were confused and lost about it, and it took them considerable amount of time and Jesus numerous apparitions after Resurrection, before they reconciled with those facts.

The 4th Sunday of Easter is called a Sunday of a Good Shepherd. It refers to the Gospel when Jesus calls himself with that name. This parable becomes a literal expression of what happened to Jesus, and he invites us to follow him in life, so that he would be ours in death with the gift of the resurrection. Jesus is the Shepherd, yet he became as well the lamb who was sacrificed to redeem the flock. The only thing that Jesus is asking of us is the courage of faith. Faith that follows the voice of the Shepherd and lives by accomplishing the works of love.

   To live with the perspective of resurrection, is to live doing good for oneself and for others, it is to live sharing the promise and hope of salvation.

   I have a couple of friends, a married couple, that for 10 years worked different shifts. He was working during the nights, and she was working during the day. They were overlapping early in the morning or early in the evening. They took care of the kids and of the house as it was necessary. But when the husband changed his job and now both worked during the day, they started to spend more time together, and then they realized that there are many things about each other that were irritating them. They would say to each other: why do you do this, or why that way and not the other? Simply they each developed their own habits and costumes of ways and situations, that the other wasn’t aware of, and when it came to evidence it became the source of annoyance and irritation, because of the lack of knowledge and understanding of each other. But because both of them became aware of that dynamic, they needed to ask the questions and come to know each other again and to accept the differences and each other the way they were. Sometimes they needed to change by accepting the way of the other because it was in some way better or more practical.

   Jesus knows everything, he knows the best way, but it is up to you and to me to discover, or to find out from him what is that way for me. Which is the best way for me to be happy with life, to be happy with myself, to be happy with others? Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me“ (John 14:6)- do you believe this? Do you know a better way to where the source of your happiness is? What makes you happy and what makes you sad? Where do you find a place for Jesus in your life? Is He a deciding factor in it, or He is not a factor at all in your decision making? Would you follow Jesus and carry his cross?

   Jesus is a Good Shepherd, He brings reconciliation, peace and joy, He brings healing, health and happiness, He brings meaning to our lives and to our death. He brings us our salvation. Is He your Shepherd?

On God bless everyone always!!!

Fr. Stan