In today’s Gospel Story (John 10:1-10) Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd who really cares for his sheep and wants to keep leading them to safety, and he is not a thief or a robber who wants to steal the sheep and bring them to harm. The majority report sees this Story as Jesus telling the people who he is by using images that speak to them and can help them understand him n their lives. As usual, the minority report can be as personal as I let it.
We “process” the Gospel through the filter of what is going on in our life when we read of hear them. These days there is a lot going on all over the world — chaos, violence, suffering, just plain evil in so many places. The Psalm and the Alleluia Verses offer some setting for hearing the Gospel Story, Every soldier knows Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want”. We had it on our helmets, our Zippo lighters and other creative places. And Jesus’ words, “I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me”. The Second Reading (1 Peter 2:20b-25) “If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God”. Following the Shepherd always involves our involvement with the people in our life, no simple thing. Psalm 23 is real and happens in our life as it is every day. Something we are always in need of is the openness to be surprised, and our willingness to let go. We come to know Abba not as remote and “out there somewhere”, but as up close and intimate. We become aware that we are an important part of “Something” much bigger than we are.
One of the places I lived when I was stationed in Germany was on a working farm. Quite an experience. Right next door was a barn that was used for the sheep when the weather was too bad for them to stay outside. The shepherd led his sheep through the fields and stayed wth them all the time. He had two dogs, one to herd the sheep, the other to protect him. When the weather was bad he led the sheep into the barn through a narrow opening. There was no gate. While the sheep were in the barn he sat, even slept, across the opening. He became he gate himself. He knew his sheep, and they knew him, just as the Story says. He would start walking and the sheep followed him, with the dog keeping them together. When he hollered the sheep responded. This gave me a whole new appreciation of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The smell of the sheep is very real and inescapable.
What would happen if I were to let Jesus speak these words to me in my everyday living? Perhaps along the lines, of “I’m trying to lead you, to take care of you, so don’t be afraid of anything, anyone, in your life, just trust me, pay attention to me”. At times he may ask me to help him reach out to others. In the Second Reading (1 Peter 2:20b-25) “If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called . . . When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten”. Recently, in the senior setting where I live, I was graced to watch this happen as our chaplain dealt with a pastorally sensitive situation. As it developed, he was doing his best to follow the Good Shepherd and work things out in a kind and gentle way, and he did well. Sometimes we are both shepherd and sheep.
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” As long as I follow you, no matter where you lead me, I have no need to be afraid. You come through the gate, which is my prayer practice, my effort to be open to you in everything, and follow you wherever you lead. You bring me to a more abundant life in my here and now everyday living. Often you lead me through the people in my life. All you ask is that I pay attention to you, listen for what you are saying in everything that goes on around me. Again the Welcome Prayer: I welcome everything that comes into my life today because it is of you”. This has made, and is making, a tremendous impact on my everyday life.
It seems that many of us prefer a god who is strict and threatening, rather than the Abba Jesus presents to us, and who is loving and caring. It is easier to focus so completely on laws and doctrines that I cannot relate to Abba who loves me always and without any conditions. I feel a sense of control when I know all the rules and answers, and I can judge others who don’t agree with how I see things. When I do and believe all the right things God owes me and I can go to heaven, like a transaction. If I don’t, this god will punish me. Jesus shows me his Abba is kind and gentle, life-giving, really interested and involved in what I do and what is gong on in my life, Not everybody is open to this sort of life. “I came so you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Thinking back to “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall fear”, I have to keep asking, am I open to hearing Christ the Shepherd talking to me? Am I willing to be part of someone’s healing, and not so concerned about what it might cost me? One thing we had back then that we certainly don’t have these days is a sense of responsibility to and for each other. We were looking beyond ourselves, our comfort, our convenience. We took care of each other, however we had to. These days a lot of what is going on is self-centered — it’s all about me getting what I want, at times attacking any in my way. I don’t want to go down that road again. I want to bring Abba’s peace and healing to the people in my life. May I listen to the Shepherd and go where he takes me. I have to ask though, am I open to hearing you talking to me, teaching me, or am I telling you what I want to hear? Is there something you’re asking me to do? Am I willing to be part of someone’s healing, and not all concerned about what it might cost me? Am I willing to be led to places, situations, relationships that I would not of myself choose, or even don ’t want, in the belief that you are moving me to where I need to be for some reason whether I understand it or not? Can I go to the place inside me where I know there is peace and live from there? Can I travel light, perhaps along the lines of high speed low drag, or do I need constant maintenance? Just sayin . . .