Homily For Fourth Sunday of Easter Year B, The Good Shepherd /Vocation Sunday, 21st April, 2024

Readings: Acts.4: 8-12; Ps.117; 1 John 3:1-2;  John 10-11-18

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

ARE YOU A GOOD SHEPHERD OR A HIRELING?

 

Today we celebrate the good shepherd/ vocational Sunday, so it is necessary for us to reflect on the imagery of shepherd and sheep which occurred frequently in the Scriptures. A figurative term which represents the leaders and those entrusted to them. Hence, today in our Gospel passage, we heard Jesus talking about the attitudes of shepherds. He said: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.

 

Traditionally in the scriptures, shepherds represent the image of God and the rulers of God’s people. So, in this Gospel passage after disputing with the Pharisees who were the leaders of the people, Jesus used this parable to illustrate the difference between true leaders of the people and the false ones. Telling us that the people need to be organized into a fold, protected and guided by the one true Shepherd. And this image of a Shepherd has become a model for Christian ministers as they imitate Jesus the true Shepherd whose voice the sheep know and follow.

 

Little wonder, every fourth Sunday of Easter the Church celebrates the Good Shepherd Sunday also known as Vocation Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on Jesus the Good Shepherd, who guides all the flocks of God into the path that he has prepared for us. It is also an occasion to celebrate Vacation because God has also called some of us to follow him to be shepherds in the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. The shepherds are the bishops, the priests and all leaders of different capacities who are called to serve the Lord and his people as guidance, helpers, coordinators, parents and teachers of his flock. We are called to follow the examples of the Good Shepherd himself in serving the people.

 

However, as many Shepherd leaders are working so hard to follow the good example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, there is no doubt that in our societies, there are some false and bad leaders who are not walking in the path of the Good Shepherd, but instead, allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by the sins of greed, selfishness and corruption in the world. Apparently, in our societies, we see that some shepherds who ought to guide and feed the sheep are now feeding on the sheep, scattering them in order to select their choice and feed on their milk, wear their wool, eat their flesh, enriching and fatling themselves from their products. While treating the sheep harshly and brutally, abandoning the sick, the weak and the strayed.

 

Most leaders in our society have betrayed their mission: instead of promoting a just society in accordance with the plan of God, they are using their authority to enrich themselves while oppressing the people entrusted to them. Today, the duties neglected by such ugly leaders are now hunting everyone. The consequences of our bad leadership are what is affecting the whole world today. Therefore, it is time for us to return to God the true Shepherd of our souls, it is time to listen to the voice of Jesus and follow him to the true gate of the sheepfold. It is time to change our ugly, greedy, selfish and corrupt ways of doing things. 

 

Dear friends, we have gone astray like lost sheep but now, let us come back to Jesus Christ the shepherd and guardian of our souls. Let us return to him who suffered for us and left an example for us to follow his ways. For he is the stone rejected by the builders, but now has proved to be the cornerstone of our lives. As we heard in our first reading today, above all the names in the world given to men, his name is the only one by which we can be saved.

 

Hence, we are called to think of the love that God has lavished on us, by letting us be called his children, as we heard it in our second reading. Therefore, let us entrust ourselves and all the leaders of the world to Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd. For He assures us that even though we are the least, the nobody and most neglected in the eyes of the world, he will not forget us but will continue to provide for our daily needs through his good and faithful leaders.

 

LET US PRAY, Lord God, as we celebrate Good Shepherd/ vocation Sunday, we pray for all the leaders of the world both religious, secular and in the family, that you will make us true Shepherd of your flock so that we may truly be able to find meaning to our respective vocations in life and for those who are still discerning the path to their vocations, especially all who are discerning their call: the seminarians, religious sisters and brothers, and those looking for life partner, may you help and guide all of us to our true vocation in life. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and grace-filled Sunday.