The Good Shepherd

05-11-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

This Sunday is often called "Good Shepherd Sunday."

Jesus intended the beautiful parable of the Good Shepherd with its many consoling truths and promises for people of every century. The liturgy's primary aim is to portray the present, not the past, to give grace and life along with history.

The parable brings to our attention three consoling truths: Christ gives His life for His sheep; He remains with them constantly through the bond of grace; He will not rest content until there be but one flock and one shepherd.

In order to realize these ends, Christ instituted His Church. This Church is His representative. There we approach Him; there He is close to us; there He continues His presence: "I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world." Through the Church He speaks to us; in the Church flow the rivers of grace from Calvary's Cross; by means of the Church Christ seeks to become united personally with each of us.

The Good Shepherd discourse should be understood in the light of all this history. By identifying Jesus as the Good Shepherd, it identifies Him as the one whom the ancient prophecies say will come for the wounded, demoralized, scattered sheep. He is the true shepherd who loves with God's self-emptying, self-sacrificing love. He is the one whom the sheep recognize because they know His love.

All of this, of course, is seen in the way Jesus responds to the man born blind. When he is driven away by the Jewish authorities, Jesus seeks him out, finds him, consoles him, and strengthens him in his faith. It is "the great shepherd of the sheep" brought back to life, who seeks out Mary Magdalene in her despair, Peter in his denial, Thomas in his unbelief, the disciples in their fear.

The resurrection appearances in the Fourth Gospel, in this sense, are the Good Shepherd discourse played out; the Risen Lord seeking out the lost and wavering sheep, gathering His scattered flock, gently reviving them in hope and love. He does not want even one of them to be lost. Nothing can steal them from Him.

By our faith and baptism, we are all sheep of the Lord's flock, having been rescued powerfully from the grip of darkness. And even when human shepherds fail us, the Risen Lord does not. We are sought out and loved by Him.

We are never abandoned—not in life, not even in death—because the Good Shepherd goes before us always.

We should have the confidence that if only we keep our ears and our hearts open, we will hear His voice, calling us by name—out of despair into hope, out of darkness into light, out of death into life.

And we should feel assured, especially in times of confusion and distress.