Fourth Easter Sunday A

1.       The dominant idea in our readings today is that of the SHEPHERD. The Shepherd is one of the Primary images, central themes of the Old and New Testament. It is as typical of Jewish thought as Maple Syrup or Hockey is to Canada.

the first shepherd is the attractive figure of Abel who offered the best of his flock.

Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David were all shepherds who became leaders and central figures in Jewish History.

Psalm 23: the Lord is my shepherd is probably the best known piece of poetry not only in religious but even secular literature.

2.       When we come to the Gospel however we have a difficulty. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Gate of the Sheepfold makes scholars stall a little as they try to unfold the imagery.

Fr. Piers Linley O.P. calls it mixed metaphor

Fr. Larry Gillick S.J. calls it extended metaphor

Fr. Eugene Hensell OSB calls it convoluted allegory.

If Jesus were to say I am the Good Shepherd. I take care of my sheep. You are my sheep and I will lay down my life for you. We could follow this image easily. But Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd who leads his flock to fresh and green pastures. But Jesus is also the gate that prevents thieves from entering and destroying the sheep.

This is like trying to focus on two different pictures at the same time. It is like trying to be the General Manager and the Coach of a Baseball team at the same time. You do neither of them well. But this is not the case with Jesus.

3.        We have been brought up on western movies. We see John Wayne rounding up the sheep or cattle and latching the gate once they are in the fold. In the time of Jesus, there were no such large number of sheep. Each one in the village had one or two sheep - almost like a member of the family. At night the sheep of the village were brought together and kept in the open space in front of the village. Bramble bushes were piled around the sheep, and the Shepherd would lie across the entrance to the Bramble Bush Circle. He would literally be the gate. The thieves could enter and steal only over his dead body.   In this sense Jesus is both the Shepherd who cares for the sheep, and the gate that prevents thieves from breaking in and destroying the sheep.

          In our Gospel however - the thieves are not violent men who come in with clubs and weapons. They are more subtle. Jesus has to protect his sheep, his followers from the deceits and man made traditions, a whole set of complicated rituals of the Scribes and Pharisees.

It is no wonder that our scholars call this a mixed metaphor, an extended metaphor, a convoluted allegory. We look for bandits with long knives coming to steal in the middle of the night. We find reputable leaders of Society with the devious and deceptive teachings and directions. They seek to lead astray the flock, the god fearing people. Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life will not allow that.

4.       However there is a two fold message in this Metaphor. The first is a message of assurance, of confidence of consolation. We know that we are safe. Jesus has protected us, or as St. Peter says in the second reading, Jesus has redeemed us with his suffering, with his blood.

          The first Letter of Peter scholars tell us was probably written not by Peter but a Disciple of Peter. It deals with issues that arose a couple of decades after Peter died. This letter has been read for three consecutive Sundays.

       the Second Easter Sunday dealt with themes of Birth and Salvation .the Third Easter Sunday dealt with Slavery to sin. a slave could be free only when a price was paid. The price of our redemption was the Blood of Jesus. the Fourth Easter Sunday: today tells us that The Suffering of Jesus that bought our redemption also gives value, worth to the suffering that is so common in the life of every human being. As Paul would say in the Letter to the Romans. The wages of sin is death. (and all the sufferings that precede death.)

5.       This brings us to the second part of the Message. given the fact that Christ is our shepherd and we are and will be protected. given the fact that Christ is our Gate to Heaven ad he has both the power and authority to do that What could be and what should be our response. Here again the allegory gets confused and the metaphor over extended. Sheep are generally regarded as dumb or naive. They go wherever they are led. They do not seem to use their intelligence. They have no choice. If we therefore are the sheep: how we do not have either the intelligence or choice to respond.

6.       This is where we jump to our first reading. Peter makes an impassioned plea to the People after Pentecost. This is the Peter who lost faith and sank in the waters when he tried to walk on the waters. This is the Peter who thrice denied Jesus. However, now that he has been given the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, he preaches fearlessly, he preaches with authority, he preaches with conviction. People are moved and ask, “What should we do?” Unlike the Sheep, but still protected by the Good Shepherd, we too can ask the Same question, “Jesus is our protector both as Shepherd and the Gate to Heaven: What should we do.

The People after the First Pentecost, repented and were baptised. In 2005 we have been baptised, now is perhaps the time to repent both personally and communally for the Mess in which we find our present World. The areas of poverty and homelessness, the areas of war and greed, the areas of pollution and eco-abuse, the areas of family break-ups and fear of wholesome relationships.

In this War torn world, in the scenery of Sponsorship Scandals, we need a Shepherd to Guide us and a Gate to keep us from being destroyed or stolen.

The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want.

He leads me to green pastures. He gives me repose.