Reflection for the Website Sunday 11th May 2025 – Easter 4C
22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:22-28)
This Sunday is sometimes known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, because on this Sunday each year, we hear part of Jesus’ Good Shepherd Discourse from chapter 10 of St. John’s Gospel. In the verses before those printed above, Jesus has referred to himself both as the gate of the sheepfold and then as the Good Shepherd, drawing on the images of God as a shepherd to be found in various places in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The religious leaders are divided about these statements, and at the beginning of our passage this morning, we hear them asking him to tell them “plainly” if he is the Messiah. Realising that for some of them, their preconceptions about what the Messiah would be like are preventing them from recognising what he’s doing, Jesus tells them: “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” So he’s continuing the sheep and shepherd imagery, but here in a negative sense, as applied to those whose minds are closed to what he’s doing, and who cannot accept him – they don’t belong to his flock of sheep, he tells them.
By contrast, those who do hear what he’s saying to them and respond, do belong to his flock, and he has an amazing promise for them: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ”Jesus is here stressing relationship – the mutual relationship between him and those who believe in him – rather than preconceptions as to how the Messiah should behave, as well as reinforcing how he’ll protect and care for those who do belong to his flock. That care for each individual, often in quiet and unobtrusive ways, is a hallmark of how Jesus operates as the Good Shepherd, and also points to how he wants his followers to live once he’s no longer on earth with them.
All of which, as well as filling out our understanding of how Jesus intends us to carry on his shepherding work amongst those who are struggling, also speaks to us about our vocations, about the individual calling that God has for each one of our lives. For most of us, that won’t be a calling to licensed or ordained ministry, but is perhaps more likely involve using our resources and talents to care for others in unobtrusive but meaningful practical ways, with special care for those who might otherwise get overlooked and be in need. This prayer from John van der Laar asks God to help us be Good Shepherds to others as we follow that calling:
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you to care for all that are close to us,
to protect those who are threatened, to welcome those who are rejected,
to forgive those who are burdened by guilt, to heal those who are broken and sick,
to share with those who have little or nothing,
to take the time to really know one another and love as you have loved us.
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you
and to be faithful to calling you gave us to be shepherds in your name Amen.