YEAR B : HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY/ WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS) (8)

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER(GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY/ WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS) YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: “Until you realize that your life is a gift to others and not for yourself, you cannot really be a good shepherd”.

BY: Fr. Clement C. Aladi.

 

HOMILY:

GOSPEL JOHN 3:1-2; 10:11-18

My dearest brothers and sisters I welcome you to yet another Sunday of the Lord’s resurrection. A very special Sunday that highlights the urgency and the need for good shepherds of God’s flock and prayers for vocations. We are here to remind each other of our responsibilities as shepherds of God’s people. A responsibility that is seriously diminishing in an egoistic and materialistic society of today. “In the quest to satisfy his personal desires, ambitions and needs the modern man tends to think more of himself than those around him.” Characteristically, good shepherding implies an altruistic and not an egoistic disposition. Jesus the risen Lord exemplified such altruism by offering himself to die for his flock. JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD. WE TOO ARE CALLED TO IMMITATE HIS EXAMPLE.

Are you a hired labourer( bad shepherd) or a good shepherd. In the O.T. God lamented on bad Shepherds “Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered”(Jer 23:1). 2. “Trouble for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shepherds ought to feed their flock” (Ez 34:2). This distinction between good shepherds and bad shepherds needs to be made in order to help us to reflect, deeply on our various vocations. Anyone, who has someone or some people entrusted to his care, by way of employment, volunteer work or vocation is called to be a shepherd. But experience has shown that not everyone discharges his/ her duties with the compassion, disposition, patience, tolerance, sacrifice, Love, availability, and meekness of a good shepherd. Many “prey on” instead of “praying for” those entrusted to their care. For many of us, our motive is far from “Caring for ” but the “wages from”. These uncaring shepherds work as hired labourers who have no sympathy or affection for those they serve. They lack the commitment in their duties. When they are committed, it is because the wages is attractive. Look at what is happening in the sphere of public service today, we have Leaders who care more about themselves and family than those they lead. Is not this the cause of Bad Governments in the world today?. In the private sphere, we live in a world where surveillance cameras and technological equipments are deployed to monitor and checkmate excesses from those working in various institutions. DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BE MONITORED BEFORE YOU COULD CARE FOR THOSE ENSTRUSTED TO YOU? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE NOT MONITORED?. LET’S BE MORE HUMAN BECAUSE GOD REWARDS EVERY ACT OF GOODNESS SHOWN TO OTHERS.

The first reading of today, highlights the testimony of Peter who made it clear to the Jewish leaders that there is no salvation except through Christ who they rejected. And that it is through him that sick were healed. Like Jesus we are called to heal a wounded world. Many are weak and wounded let’s be more compassionate and patient in dealing with people around us.

John, in today’s second reading, reminds his people that they should remember their privileges. First, it is their privilege to be called the children of God. John clarifies that we are not merely called the children of God; we are God’s children in actuality. It is by grace through Baptism that we become God’s children. The more we know and love the God we believe in, the more we will strive to act and live as God’s children. In other words, we become like the God we believe in. As the culmination of all our privileges as children of God, when Christ appears, we shall see him “as He really is,” and we shall be like him. As God’s children we imitate God our father in being true shepherds of His flock.

In the Old Testament, the image of the Shepherd is often applied to God as well as to the leaders of the people. The book of Exodus several times calls Yahweh a shepherd. Likewise, the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel compare Yahweh’s care and protection of His people to that of a shepherd. “He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against His breast and leading the mother ewes to their rest.” (Is 40:11). Ezekiel represents God as a loving Shepherd Who searches diligently for his lost sheep. In the N.T as we heard in the Gospel of today, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd and tells us that: 1. He knows His sheeps and they hears His voice. 2. He gives them eternal life. 3. He protects them 4. He dies for them. God is challenging us today by these qualities of a good shepherd so Let us identify with those entrusted to us in every experience of their lives. The closer we come to them the more they listen and understand us.Let’s offer them life, an opportunity to grow and succeed. God gives us life through the sacraments. Let our words and actions give people hope and encouragement. It is our duty to protect them and not to expose them to danger and harm; physical or spiritual. We need to be vigilant is looking after them. We must make the sacrifices for those we are called to care for. It is dying to self in order to offer life to those of them in need. It is not about us but about them. Jesus laid down his life for us, we too must not spare anything in offering the best of ourselves to those we serve. Remember their are those who are outside the boundaries of our jurisdiction. Sheeps who do not belong to this fold, they too must be loved and cared for. No discrimination of any sort. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

In what ever profession you find yourself in, be a good shepherd. let us also be good sheeps in our parish communities, let us be sheeps that listens to the voice of their shepherd and jointly participate in building up the church of God. Let us pray always for more vocations to the Diaconate, Priesthood and Religious life that God will in every generation may find worthy pastors and ministers of His Church.

May we eschew every form of selfish ambition in religious and civil service. Every opportunity to trade, work , lead, teach etc. is a call to serve others. According to Clem C. “There is joy and fulfilment in our work when we truly offer ourselves in sincere service to others as good shepherds”. May God strengthen you as you care for others and may the good Shepherd reward you unceasingly.The Lord is our Shepherd there is nothing we shall want…Psalm 23.

I keep you always in my Prayers.

Fr. Clement C. Aladi.

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