The 4th Sunday of Easter is celebrated as the Good Shepherd Sunday, and today is the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
A sheepfold in the Palestinian settings of Jesus’ times was an enclosure surrounded by stone walls on which were placed bundles of thorns. Brambles are allowed to grow on them to prevent sheep from exiting and thieves from entering the sheepfold. The enclosure could be in front of a house, built outdoors, or on a mountain slope. Several shepherds could use a single sheepfold built on a mountain slope together to bring their sheep at night; they would take turns staying awake and keeping watch while others slept.
Armed with a stick, the gatekeeper squatted at the entrance to the fold that had no door. In that position, he himself became “the door.” Only those whom he allowed to pass through could approach the sheep. Jesus assumes the role of the one who watches over the sheep-fold; hence, in the second part of today’s Gospel, Jesus says he is “the Gate.”
Upon recognising the shepherd’s steps and voice, the sheep would immediately follow him when the night was over. From this experience of the people of the land, Jesus narrates this parable.
The true shepherd knows his sheep by their names and calls them “one by one.” For Jesus, an anonymous crowd does not exist. He cares about each of his sheep. He pays attention to each of their gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. This is what we read about God in Isaiah’s prophecy: “He carries the lambs in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young” (Is 40:11). He understands their difficulties and helps and respects them.
There are also thieves and bandits around. Who are they? It could be the religious and political leaders who wear the mask of shepherds, but in reality, are greedy for dominance and exploitation; their methods of doing so are violence and lies. Jesus uses three verbs to summarise their works of death: They steal, kill and destroy.
Today’s Gospel emphasises the “voice of the shepherd,” which is heard, recognised, and immediately distinguished from that of strangers. After the resurrection, the disciples could not recognise Jesus when they saw him face to face. He was mistaken for a wayfarer, a ghost, or a gardener, but His voice was unmistakable, and they recognised him.
The Good Shepherd Sunday is a reminder and an invitation for every disciple of Jesus to cultivate a heart of a true shepherd who is not satisfied with fulfilling the minimum requirements. We are all shepherds. The Gospel warns us not to behave like the hired hands who always have much to complain about and are satisfied with fulfilling the given duties.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
