HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C.

Acts 13:14. 43-52; Psalm 100:1-3. 5; Apocalypse 7:9. 14-17; John 10:27-30.

“THE SHEPHERD AND SHEEP AFTER GOD’S HEART!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

·      Today is traditionally known as the Good Shepherd Sunday. Today special prayers are offered to God, to continue to inspire men and women to the vocation to the priesthood and religious life, modelled after Christ the chief shepherd.

·      Today the emphasis is on the fact that “the harvest is indeed great, and labourers are few. Therefore, we must ask the Lord of the harvest to send in more labourers into his harvest field” (Matt. 9:35-38).

·      The church today more than ever, is in dire need of good shepherds. A shepherd modelled after Christ our chief shepherd, who continues to direct us as his sheep and is ever ready to lay down his life for our sake. This he did by his death on the cross. If we all desire to have good shepherds, then we must be ready to be good sheep, because good sheep begets good shepherds, and good shepherds take care of good sheep.

·      The mission of shepherding is an enormous one and since the harvest is rich, but the labourers are few, God continues to raise up from among the people (Heb. 5:1), labourers (shepherds) who will look after his bountiful harvest (sheep).

·      Within the Christian fold, we sometimes are sheep and at other times shepherds because of the different vocations, and different responsibilities we handle in the church. No wonder Saint Augustine once said, “for you, I am a priest, with you, I am a Christian”. Simply put, for you, I am a shepherd but with you, I am a sheep.

·      The responsorial psalm today reminds us that “we are his people, the sheep of his flock” meaning that under God we are all his sheep while he is our Chief Shepherd. He leads his flock to safety, pasture, and freshwater (Ps. 23). Christ our chief shepherd teaches us his ways, to be sacrificial in service, to lay down our lives for others because he laid down his life for his sheep, out of love.

·      If at one time we are the shepherd and at another time sheep depending on the various missions of life. Who then is a shepherd after God’s own heart? Who then is a sheep after God’s heart?

·      A shepherd after God’s heart does the following:

-       He searches: the good shepherd is always anxious to recover the lost sheep. He leaves the ninety-nine to go after the lost one. He does not give up until the lost one is found. He is never angry at the lost sheep. He is joyful when he finds his sheep. In the same way, Jesus our chief shepherd came to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). He came to seek and save what was lost (Lk. 19:10). In the same way, Paul, and Barnabas in the first reading modelled after Christ the chief shepherd was fearless and went into Perga and Antioch to seek out the lost sheep. They were joyful when they made converts and were never deterred or discouraged when they met resistance and persecution. They were indeed happy to endure hardship and persecution in the name of Christ.

-       He finds: when the shepherd goes out seeking the lost sheep, he always finds. He carries all the weight of the lost sheep on his shoulder. He keeps the sheep safe lest it strays again. In the same way, Christ our chief shepherd carries the weight of our sin and forgives our transgressions (Matt. 11:28; John 10:28).

-       He brings home: every lost sheep belongs to a fold. The good shepherd shares his joy of finding the lost sheep with friends “rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep”. He brings the sheep all the way home, back to the fold (Jn. 14:2-3).

·      A sheep after God’s own heart does the following: Even though sheep score lowest in the animal IQ, it is innocent and need serious attention. A good sheep realises its vulnerability. Even among the sheepfold, there are wolves in disguise, the agents of the devil. The good sheep must struggle to remain in the fold because there is strength in togetherness. A good sheep listens to the voice of the shepherd. A good sheep is always close to the shepherd.

·      Having known the qualities of a good sheep and a good shepherd, we must now ask ourselves this question: as one being led, have I been a good sheep? Do I listen to the voice of my shepherd? Do I obey the commandments of my shepherds, do I even trust them enough to lead me to green pasture?

·      It is no longer news that there are many fake shepherds who swindle and devour their sheep, we must be vigilant, we must be on red alert, and we must possess the ability to hear and distinguish the voice of a true shepherd.

·      As sheep with many voices disguising to be the voice of the true shepherd, we must understand that to be protected and directed we must listen to the voice of Christ the chief shepherd.

·      “My sheep hears my voice,” says Jesus in the gospel reading. “I know them, and they follow me” (Jn. 10:27). A few verses earlier, Jesus states that the sheep follow the shepherd because they recognise his voice, whereas they do not recognise the voice of strangers (Jn. 10:4-5).

·      Christ our chief and divine shepherd is not only good, but he is also perfect, because he is always willing to lay down his life for his sheep. Jesus gives his sheep eternal life, and they never perish. No one can take them out of my hand nor out of the father’s hand.

·      Dear friends in Christ, we must realise on a day like this that the quality of the life of the sheep depends on the shepherd. The quality of the spirituality of the sheep depends on the spirituality of the shepherd because no one gives what he does not have. The quality of the spiritual life of the people depends on the quality of the spiritual life of their priest. Hence it is a challenge to priests as shepherds, to live up to the billing, while for the sheep to be vigilant.

·      If we must be led to our expected greener pasture, the good sheep must follow the true shepherd. They must follow Christ the good shepherd. They must first know Christ the shepherd and know his voice and his smell.

·      The good sheep must follow through by listening to the voice of the shepherd. Whom you listen to shapes your life and your spirituality. You must carefully choose whom you listen to. A voice that is true and selfless and will ultimately lead you to the greener pasture.

·      Dearly beloved, according to Psalm 23, there are enormous benefits we stand to gain if Christ becomes our shepherd. If Christ is the shepherd, we shall not lack, because he knows what our needs are. He continues to provide us with green pastures meaning that we shall never go hungry. No matter what we have lost while following bad shepherds, he will restore them. 

·      With Christ the good shepherd we are immune to spiritual death, though we may die a physical death. With Christ our shepherd to lead us, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, because he is always beside us, he uses his staff to keep us in check. He anoints our heads with oil so that our cup can overflow with his blessings. 

·      With Christ, our good shepherd to guide us goodness and kindness shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever. Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!