May 7, 2025 at 9:12 a.m.
A shepherd’s care
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. — John 10: 27-28
All of creation is splendidly celebrating spring! And our Church is splendidly celebrating the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ! What a blessing it is to live in the northern hemisphere where these two amazing realities come together to help us viscerally experience the gift of new life. This life is so invincible that it will go on for all ages. It’s really a challenge to absorb the marvels our God has shared with us in these cosmic celebrations!
The Second Reading from the Book of Revelation has this cosmic breadth; it captures the grandeur of the victory of Christ over the forces of death and evil. A great multitude is assembled before the Lamb. This throng represents all of humankind — without distinction — “from every nation, race, people and tongue.” They are dressed in white robes — symbolic of their victory — and waving palm branches. These branches are reminders of the palm procession that ushered in Holy Week. But the difference is that the bearers of these palms show their loyalty to Jesus, not a momentary devotion that would fall away on Good Friday, but a fidelity that gave all, that lives through great distress and remains faithful to Jesus and his Way. In this cosmic festival, they worship day and night without fear, without need of food or drink. They are tenderly cared for by the Lamb.
This Lamb will shepherd them. This is an interesting twist — how does a lamb become the shepherd? Jesus, as the Lamb of God, has laid down his life for his sheep, for all the great multitudes, and Jesus, the Good Shepherd, continues this care for all generations. Jesus will lead them to “springs of life-giving water,” recalling the shepherd of Psalm 22. Jesus will “wipe away the tears from all eyes” — God’s promise to the people in the book of the Prophet Isaiah (25:8).
This shepherd theme continues in the Gospel. Jesus strengthens the bond between shepherd and sheep. Above the din of culture and society, above the cacophony of personal needs and wants, Jesus’ followers hear his voice. We are these sheep. We hear and heed the voice of the shepherd. We are faithful to his call to love everyone as he has loved, with a love that gives all. The great promise of Easter is reinforced here: Jesus says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” We can never be snatched away from him — no one and nothing can take us away from Jesus and the Father.
And then comes the lightning bolt — “The Father and I are one.” This is the ultimate reassurance — we belong to Jesus and Jesus belongs to the Father! Together with the Holy Spirit, we are swept into the arms of the Trinity!
This powerful Gospel, this amazing promise, this tremendous love is overwhelming. So we need to stop and be awed, stop and experience the reality of this love. One way to do this is the practice of Lectio Divina — sacred reading. Perhaps you are already familiar with this practice. It is very simple yet profound. Read the Gospel slowly, gently. Savor the reading and listen for a word or phrase that touches your heart. Ponder the word or phrase and repeat it slowly. Allow this pondering to lead you into a conversation with Jesus, with God. Pray by talking to God about what you have discovered, what you have experienced. Re-read the passage and give thanks for the graces you have received. In this way, we have touched and tasted the shepherd’s love.
As we experience the joys of Easter and the beauties of our spring, let the loving care of our shepherd, Jesus, sink down deeply into our hearts, like the refreshing rain. Let Jesus’ new life blossom in our hearts and lead us to “Sing to the Lord … serve the Lord with gladness and come before him with joyful song!”
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