Good Shepherd Sunday

04-21-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Aruldoss

Dear People of God,

Good morning to you all. May the risen Christ bless you with peace, joy and protection.

First of all I appreciate and thank all the members of our Immaculate Conception's knight of Columbus for organizing and providing breakfast for last four month. It was a delicious one.

The fourth Sunday of Easter is also called Good Shepherd Sunday. In Jesus’ time, a shepherd was someone who protected and guided his sheep. So Jesus uses this imagery to explain His nature toward us. . In our first reading, Peter testified through his miracle and testimony that Jesus is actually the good shepherd who cares for his flock. It is His wish to heal us. So as a Shepherd, he is with us at all time. He watches over us and guides through the paths of life. He cares of us. Whenever we call upon Christ our good shepherd in faith, he hears and answer us according to the purpose of his will. He walks with us and care for us daily.

Our second reading presents us with one very important attribute of Christ the Good Shepherd. That is, love. John reminds us of this: “Behold the great love that the father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.” The only love comparable to the love of the good shepherd is the love of a mother for her baby (Is 49:15). Christ demonstrated this love for us by offering his life as a sacrifice and ransom for our salvation.

In today’s gospel from John, Jesus tells us: “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn 11: 14). The good shepherd knows and takes care of his flock. A good shepherd is readily available for his flock. He is ready to make sacrifices for their good. On the other hand, a good flock listens to its shepherd. It obeys his instructions and follows him with trust and confidence. The celebration of Christ the Good Shepherd today reminds us that we are shepherds, as well as flocks. This is because each one of us is occupying one leadership position or the other.

In short, Jesus is our good Shepherd because He accepted suffering and death in order to save us. Christ is our role model of love and care. If we obediently continue to listen to him, and to follow him, he will lead us safely to our destination in heaven. Let us look inward and ask ourselves, ‘who is my Shepherd?’ and ‘have I gone astray?’ let us Name the areas in our life that we have neglected and ask Jesus to bring us home. Pray for His mercy, seek His forgiveness in the sacraments and begin again. Remember that we are His and He is ready for us to come home, as He says, “I know mine, and mine know me.”

Have a Happy and Joyful Sunday!!