Fourth Sunday of Easter Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons

Rome Domitilla Catacombs

21 April 2024

The right kind of shepherd

As a living homily, I would like us all to take several of the verses from John's Gospel this morning (John 10 : 11-18) , and to reflect on them, rather like mirrors held up, not only to reflect each one of us as a shepherd, but also to glimpse the Church collectively as a community of diverse , disparate groups , in order that we might start to recognise how close, or conversely how far, we are from being the 'right' kind of shepherd for the flock we now belong to, and how in taking on the challenge of becoming a shepherd, we might see what believing in the One God means . I use the term 'right' as in the sense of the 'best' sort of person to follow in the footsteps of the Christ, who is the one and only 'good shepherd', with whom we share, both in His name, and commissioned by Him, the baptismal vocation and pastoral task of ministering to others in loving service, no matter who we may be.

John has Jesus proclaim in verse 11; "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep". In these two sentences, a whole world of religious discipleship is opened up for us,. Here we understand that as disciples of the `Lord, we too are called to share in this shepherding of Christ in our present world. Nevertheless it is a model that needs deep understanding and careful reflection. For instance we must put aside the lyrical, poetic, bucolic picture of those shepherds of our countryside and literature, and instead concentrate on the older biblical image of them as rejected outsiders, rather more the robber toughies that terrorised people and had bad reputations, like the nativity shepherds who were definitely not part of normal religious society. It is when we se the call of the shepherd as one that starts with the outsider that we identify more easily with the 'good shepherd.

The psalm for today's liturgy has this verse in it :

'The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.' (Ps 118 : 22)

We find this metaphor of a rejection one that takes us to the mission of Christ, and as Peter tells us in our first reading from Acts our true foundation stone is the Christ who though divine takes on the sufferings and hurts of humankind and its world, and in being rejected, then in turning death upside down through the resurrection, makes true that image of a new order of things! We too can only become 'like as the good shepherd' if we accept our task of reaching out and laying down our lives in service for others.

Sharing in shepherding means understanding and sacrifice

Jesus tells us through John in verses 14 and 15 that; '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'. This is a tough call, because it means we can never retreat into our own little worlds and cut ourselves off from the needs and necessities of the world around us. It is a well known axiom of eremitical, monastic life that to live outside normal society does not mean you do not belong to it, but in a singular and intense way are drawn into the heart of what it means to be human. 'A brother went to Abba Moses to ask for a word of advice on living the monastic life. Moses replied, "Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything."'

What we need to understand is that the word 'cell' is not essentially about a space or place, but about our life and responsibilities. My cell is different to yours, it is where I am called to be, and it is there by entering into the depths of my own life , by living out my vocation and responsibilities, my friendships and tasks that I am taught just where the Christ-shepherd I seek is, that being with me, in me and in all, then I begin to understand how I am known and how to discern the Christ in the lives of others. my life, my 'cell' will truly teach me!

The shepherds task is to help people find that 'cell' where they will meet their Lord, but as Jesus reminds us, knowing Him, knowing the unseen Trinity is a challenge because it requires us to go that extra mile, bear one another's burdens, lay ones life down for our sister and brother. To help others find their God is no easy task and involves us travelling on a difficult path

Christ in not only the way, but He is the inclusive way!

The last reflection is in fact the most important, because it impacts on ourselves in a world with so many religious ideologies. How is the truth of our Christian faith to work with others? My decision to live in and with Christ makes me a disciple of a way that is clear, in Him, the Christ, is my salvation! But this is not an exclusive way. Christ does not want to exclude me nor anybody else from the gifts he brings to us through the power of the Spirit, nor does he exclude us from that hard road of salvation. In fact the tradition, in the sense of handing on the key treasures of the faith, shows us one truth, to know how important it is to agree to disagree, if those who do so do it with and in love!

We are not automatons, nor made in the same personality, to be 'One-in faith' means a common ethos, a connectivity of love that respects difference but knows that at the heart of all is that great mystery of God, that true shepherd of souls. So these words should strike hard: we find in verse 16," I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd". In the end Christ wants us to be one, not only in faith but in love, is this achievable?

Here let me share two pastoral images, my friend, John Cooper, who died two weeks back aged 97, whose life was complete, but whose ministry amongst us was of gentleness and care and whose legacy is of that long search for meaning continues. He has, I am sure, found his answer , for if anything speaks to me of him, it is that image of compassion and mercy at the heart of God.

He may have said he did not believe in God, but for me as for other, it is obvious he walked with God, and in his death he teaches me the wonder of a loving merciful heart. I shall really miss him!

The other is of my friend `Lesley going home to God , not too far from her end, and it too is of wonder, of the long search of a vibrant mind open to other faiths and none, yet now at her ending I discern that the Good Shepherd is very much there, His staff gives her comfort, His table is laid for her to join the feast. In the end, we are those who follow the shepherd and have but one destination, but travel by many routes, loving with many loves, seeking with many plans, discovering that in the end all of these things are bound up in the One who is Love ! And that my friends is the mystery of the Shepherd, who walks with us in a blessing of mercy and love and nothing else.

Amen.

Lectio

1 Jn 3:1-2

John Chrysostom: Homily 60

John 10:17

Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.

What could be more full of humanity than this saying, if so be that on our account our Lord shall be beloved, because He dies for us? What then? Tell me, was He not beloved during the time before this; did the Father now begin to love Him, and were we the causes of His love? Do you see how He used condescension? But what does He here desire to prove? Because they said that He was alien from the Father, and a deceiver, and had come to ruin and destroy He tells them, This if nothing else would persuade Me to love you, namely, your being so beloved by the Father, that I also am beloved by Him, because I die for you. Besides this He desires also to prove that other point, that He came not to the action unwillingly, (for it unwillingly, how could what was done cause love?) and that this was especially known to the Father. And if He speaks as a man, marvel not, for we have often mentioned the cause of this, and to say again the same things is superfluous and unpleasant.

I lay down My life, that I might take it again.