Fr. Chris' Homily - 4th Sunday of Easter: Lectionary Cycle “C” Gospel: John 10: 27-30
From time to time, Catholic Christians are asked a question by Christians of other denominations. And the question is: “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Some Catholics don’t know that question is an invitation to a faith chat, and so some will say: “Of course I have: I’ve been baptized and confirmed, and I’ve received communion hundreds of times. But that’s NOT the question being asked, which is on a practical or everyday level: i.e., “Do YOU allow Jesus to guide you in ALL your decisions, day and night, and all week and year long?”
This weekend, Christian churches all over the world are celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday, and that includes us: the Gospel calls us to renew our primary pledge of allegiance to Christ Jesus Risen: NOT a pledge to any party, person or platform, not to any philosophy or purpose other than Christ. For we SAY in our professions of faith that Jesus is our Guide and Goal, and that’s EXACTLY who Jesus WANTS to be, in every case! Stay with me, please: Jesus knows us as the unique individuals you and I are, and ever will be! 2Jesus, we’re NOT just one of the crowd, just like I’m not just Rose and Jack Heller’s 1st child Chris; I’m not just Meg and Mike’s oldest sibling, nor am I the last 4 digits of my Social Security number. You and I are God’s one and only. Yes: that’s the closeness that Jesus means when he says: “no one can take them out of my hand.“
So, those who want and need Jesus all the time, and are an open book to Jesus in all their decisions are becoming the people that God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit intended us to become! Our ancient ancestors prayed in Psalm 139: “Lord, you probe me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand.” In this church, we have sung: “Yahweh I know you are near, standing always by my side; you guard me from the foe, and you lead me, in ways everlasting.” Yes: it’s all about faith: only the Lord Jesus knows us inside and out, and knows where we should be going-together!
And it’s true: there’s only 1 Good Shepherd: his name is Jesus; and he also has disciples who shepherd in his name. In order to be a shepherd in Jesus’ image, the person would need to love you unselfishly all the time: for a shepherd is always whole-hearted about the mission they receive from Jesus our Savior. I’m thinking of two people this afternoon. 1. One is a man named Bob, a true fisherman, who wants to keep introducing young people to the art of fishing. He welcomes them onto the boat: tells them the truth: put on vest protector, in case things get rough. He teaches young people how to bait the fishing line, and to return to the water the fish that are not big enough yet. Like Jesus, he never gets tired of reviewing the same basic directions multiple times. Don’t we remember how many times Jesus had to stop the apostles, when they were SO concerned about who was most important to Jesus? Jesus kept saying: If you want to be with me, then being a servant to all is the answer! Like the Good Shepherd, Bob has his young fisherwomen and fishermen’s best interests at heart all the time.
2.And I’m also remembering Phyllis, with whom I worked in one of my other parishes. Phyllis joined her Parish’s Food Pantry Team, making sure people had basic groceries. She was kind and compassionate, never sitting in judgment of people who came to the pantry: Phyllis knew that LOTS of people were just 1 paycheck away from needing to ask the Food Pantry for help, rather than bringing food each week to stock the Food Pantry. One day, the Parish Outreach Director asked Phyllis to consider taking a step up in service: the Director asked Phyllis if she’d be willing to learn about all the other benefits and help available for the needy. Phyllis took the training, and became even more involved and engaged in this corporal work of mercy; and yes: there IS help available for mortgage payment and eviction avoidances, utility bills, emergency fuel assistance, etc. Phyllis also learned that through Suffolk County’s Social Services, there were housing options. Phyllis’ patience and loving leadership worked because Phyllis knew she was not Jesus: our Savior Jesus is the only Jesus!
Today, the wisest thing we can do is to confidently allow Jesus our Shepherd to lead us all the time, through all the hills and valleys of life, and to trust Jesus’ word, remembering that “NO one can take us out of his hands.” Alleluia! Amen!
