Christ is the shepherd of our lives

May 11, 2003 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter

	Fr. Richard Ver Bust

The role of a shepherd helped many scriptural writers to express the relationship between God and the people of Israel. It may be difficult for us in a non-agricultural society to understand. Yet we probably can appreciate its internal meaning and celebrate this Sunday, often called "Good Shepherd Sunday."

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us that he cares for us. That care is so deep and intense that he was willing to give up his life out of love for the Father and us. He uses the image of a shepherd to help us understand that care. Flocks of sheep in those ancient times were small and a relationship was built up between the shepherd and the sheep. The sheep began to recognize the shepherd as one who protects them and brings them to water and food. In turn the shepherd recognizes the individual sheep. As he calls out to them they recognize his voice and he may even give them a specific name. So Christ tells us that he invites us to listen to his voice and that he knows each one personally. Instead of food and water, Christ leads us, if we are willing, to the Father.

Today's second reading tells us that all this happens because God has entered into a wonderful relationship by making us his children. This adoption as God's children puts us into this special relationship with him and this gives us a new kind of life. We experience what God intends for us in the next life, a total and complete sense of union. Those who do not know God cannot understand this. But we will, for our commitment in faith tells us what this means.

The responsorial psalm refrain gives us another metaphor to help us understand the role of Christ. It uses the image of a building with Christ as the cornerstone. It is a verse drawn from scripture that reminds us of Christ's rejection but how God has glorified him and made him the foundation of the coming kingdom. The psalm reminds us that in God's love, Christ came that we might know God more deeply. God's blessings fill us with joy for now we know God's love more perfectly.

Peter once more is shown in his role as leader of the new church community in the first reading. Peter witnesses to Christ's death and resurrection. Our reading gives us a brief excerpt from Peter's defense speech to the Sanhedrin. He and John had been arrested for causing unrest in preaching about Christ. The leaders of the Sanhedrin, the religious assembly of Judaism, especially the Sadducees did not believe in any resurrection from the dead. Peter courageously defends his faith and tells them in rejecting Christ, they have rejected God's own plan of salvation. Anticipating the eventual mission to the Gentiles, Peter also tells them that this salvation is open to all people not just the Jews. Jesus is the only source of this salvation.

By baptism we have become the adopted children of God. We have experienced the beginning of salvation which brings healing to our lives. We continue to know God's love in that Christ has also become the shepherd of our lives. We live in confident assurance that he will care for us. He leads us to the food that sustains our lives, that is, the Eucharist. The glory and wonder of what God does for us as his children should continue to amaze us and fill us with joy.

(Fr. Ver Bust holds the title of professor emeritus in religious studies at St. Norbert College, De Pere.)