Orlagh in the cityJohn 10:11-18
John 10:11 Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
INITIAL OBSERVATIONS
This remarkably beautiful and well-known passage reflects a deep meditation on the meaning of Jesus’ life and death.
In the ancient Near East, the metaphor of shepherd for the ruler was a natural one. God was also a kind of king and so also a shepherd. This is found positively and negatively throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis onwards.
Shepherd language is present throughout the Gospels, as a metaphor for the ministry of Jesus and for exploring his death.
Thought for the day
The image of the Good Shepherd is profoundly reassuring. We hear it today in John’s gospel and elsewhere in the Bible. It evokes a tremendous feeling of being cared for—the consolation of faith. Even in these difficult days, we need such reassurance. At the same time, the metaphor is used in a dissonant way: no regular shepherd, however caring, gives his life for his sheep! Cosy familiarity can dull the sense of shock: what is going on here? The gentle pastoral language suddenly gives way to sacrifice, as the shepherd becomes the lamb of God.
KIERAN O’MAHONY OSA—www.tarsus.ie
This remarkably beautiful and well-known passage reflects a deep meditation on the meaning of Jesus’ life and death.
In the ancient Near East, the metaphor of shepherd for the ruler was a natural one. God was also a kind of king and so also a shepherd. This is found positively and negatively throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis onwards.
Shepherd language is present throughout the Gospels, as a metaphor for the ministry of Jesus and for exploring his death.
Thought for the day
The image of the Good Shepherd is profoundly reassuring. We hear it today in John’s gospel and elsewhere in the Bible. It evokes a tremendous feeling of being cared for—the consolation of faith. Even in these difficult days, we need such reassurance. At the same time, the metaphor is used in a dissonant way: no regular shepherd, however caring, gives his life for his sheep! Cosy familiarity can dull the sense of shock: what is going on here? The gentle pastoral language suddenly gives way to sacrifice, as the shepherd becomes the lamb of God.
KIERAN O’MAHONY OSA—www.tarsus.ie
POINTERS FOR PRAYER
JOHN BYRNE OSA—Intercom
- Our relationship with those ‘in charge’ of us changes when we sense that not only are they in charge, but they care. Remember the difference this made for you as a child, and give thanks for the caring adults who were part of your life.
- The good shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep”. When has your care for another led you to “lay down your life” for that person, e.g., as a friend, parent, spouse, son or daughter? When you have known another to do this for you?
- Jesus speaks of the freedom of the Good Shepherd in laying down his life. Faced with the needs of others, we can at times feel trapped into looking after them, caught by duty, obligation, or guilt. We can become like the hired hands doing a job without care for the person. Perhaps you have experienced both attitudes, caring for others under duress and caring by your free choice. What difference did it make when you chose to care for the other, even in circumstances where you had little option?
- What do these experiences of love and care in human relationships reveal to you about God’s love for you?
JOHN BYRNE OSA—Intercom
This story is to be read in the light of what took place in c.9 with the man born blind. The Pharisees in that story represent blind leaders who are incapable of leading the people to God. Jesus, on the other hand, as the Good Shepherd, is the one who lays down his life for his sheep. Not only that, he is aware of them not simply as a flock, but he knows each of them individually and they know him. In John, the verb to know has a particular importance because it highlights the fact that coming to faith involves a getting to know Jesus. It is all about a personal relationship. Each of us is invited to come to know the one who lays down his life for us in an act of love.
SEAN GOAN—Let the Reader Understand, Year B
SEAN GOAN—Let the Reader Understand, Year B
This beautiful image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is a call to conversion directed to those who can assert their claim to the title of shepherd in the community. The shepherd who resembles Jesus thinks only of his sheep; he does not flee when he has problems; he does not abandon them. On the contrary, he is by their side; he protects them; he does all he can for them, even exposing his life for their sake.
At the same time, this image is a call to solidarity with all. The good shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know him. Only through this strong closeness and mutual familiarity, this union of hearts, does the good shepherd share his life with the sheep. We must move towards this union and knowing one another in the church today. In these difficult times for faith, we must join forces as never before, and undertake a common search for principles based on the Gospels and guidelines for action, in order to know in what direction we must creatively move toward the future.
However, this is not what is happening. There are some customary calls to unity, but there is no move to create an atmosphere of mutual listening and dialogue.
Many bishops don’t find it easy to empathise with the real needs of believers. Many of the faithful find it difficult to feel any. sympathy or interest for pastors, whom they see as unaffected by their problems. Only believers filled with the Spirit of the God Shepherd can help us to create the atmosphere of familiarity, mutual listening, and respect ad humble dialogue which we do badly need.
JOSÉ A PAGOLA—Following n the Footsteps of Jesus, Year B
At the same time, this image is a call to solidarity with all. The good shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know him. Only through this strong closeness and mutual familiarity, this union of hearts, does the good shepherd share his life with the sheep. We must move towards this union and knowing one another in the church today. In these difficult times for faith, we must join forces as never before, and undertake a common search for principles based on the Gospels and guidelines for action, in order to know in what direction we must creatively move toward the future.
However, this is not what is happening. There are some customary calls to unity, but there is no move to create an atmosphere of mutual listening and dialogue.
Many bishops don’t find it easy to empathise with the real needs of believers. Many of the faithful find it difficult to feel any. sympathy or interest for pastors, whom they see as unaffected by their problems. Only believers filled with the Spirit of the God Shepherd can help us to create the atmosphere of familiarity, mutual listening, and respect ad humble dialogue which we do badly need.
JOSÉ A PAGOLA—Following n the Footsteps of Jesus, Year B
It is an ancient custom in our Catholic Church that this fourth Sunday of Easter time is given to a reflection on chapter 10 of St John's gospel, with its theme of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In each of the three years, on this Sunday we spend time on just one section of the chapter, reflecting on it.
In more recent years, it has also become customary that on this Sunday we remember specially our Church's need for more people who will give themselves to the task of shepherding God's people.
MICHEL DE VERTEUIL—Lectio Divina on the Sunday Gospels, Year B
- Verses 11 - 13: the passage starts off by establishing a striking contrast between two people: the good shepherd, and the hireling.
- In verses 13 and 14 the theme is developed further. The good shepherd knows well that the Father knows and loves all his sheep.
- Verses 15 - 16: There are other sheep who we know do not belong to us here and now but we are still attached to them. They are not part of our own community, but we know that the Father knows and loves them all. The Father recognises too that they will have to become one. Soon they will all be together, living with peace under one Shepherd. As Christians we know too that we will be one of those who are called to be among them as their shepherds.
- Verses 17 - 18: What the Father loves about the Good Shepherd is stated more clearly. He loves him because he lays down his life and will soon take it up again. This is a particular aspect of the passage to which we can give some stress. No one takes our life from us. We lay it down of our own free will.
MICHEL DE VERTEUIL—Lectio Divina on the Sunday Gospels, Year B
