Good Shepherd Sunday

(May 2nd, 2004)

-- for St. Vincent's Parish Bulletin by: Dennis Wells

Today, the 4th Sunday of Easter, is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”. We are now in ‘Cycle C’ of the 3-year Lectionary Cycle — over the past 2 years on this Sunday, we have heard the preceding excerpts from the 10th chapter of John’s gospel and this year we hear the theological conclusion of this discourse.

Here are some quotes that you will NOT find in Scripture regarding the nature of the Good Shepherd:

  • “Like a shepherd he beats his flock… for it is by his unyielding hand that they will know him.”
  • “…For I do not know any of their names but by golly, they’ll do whatever I tell them.”
  • “…For the Good Shepherd will forsake the one (or the 10, or the 20, or the 4000) who is (are) lost, for the sake of maintaining whatever is left.”

Instead, what we hear is:

  • “He calls them by name”
  • “They recognize His voice”
  • “They will not follow a stranger”
  • “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”
  • “The hired hand… runs away, leaving the sheep to be snatched”
  • “I know my sheep and mine know me”
  • “I have other sheep who do not belong to this fold…”
  • “They shall be one flock…”

The Good Shepherd loves the sheep of his flock! Every single one!

The Good Shepherd does not regard some sheep as being better than others, the Good Shepherd does not berate and ridicule the flock, the Good Shepherd does not ostracize selected sheep, the Good Shepherd does not wreak harsh punishment upon errant sheep...

No, the Good Shepherd loves the sheep of his flock! EVERY SINGLE ONE! It is ONLY because of this boundless love that an errant sheep returns to the flock. Those who belong to Christ return to Christ when they truly experience the boundless love of God. The Good Shepherd exhibits gentle leadership and offers nurturing guidance in order to preserve the safety and integrity of the whole flock.

Please, DO NOT STOP when you finish reading this! Go read the 10th chapter of John’s gospel.

How can you, how can I, how can ‘We’ (the Church) be “the Boundless Love” of Christ?

How can we do this today, even before we go to bed tonight? How can we do it tomorrow, or on Tuesday, or Thursday, or next Monday?

We are called to be shepherds!

 

 

Parish Mission Statement

We, the people of St. Vincent's Parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri, are committed to following Christ, evangelizer of the poor. We do this through:
- Worship and continued spiritual formation for both laity and clergy
- Serving the poor and oppressed
- Preaching the Gospel by word and action in an ecumenical spirit