Monday, April 18, 2016

April 18 - Homily for Today

+ Our gospel passage today makes reference to yesterday’s passage in which Jesus talks about shepherds and sheep! Today he tells us that the authentic and genuine shepherds of the sheep enter through the gate and do not climb in to where the sheep are by illegitimate and unauthorized channels. The way to be connected with the people of God, in order words, is through Jesus, who is the gate of the sheep – and all shepherds like him will enter and minister to the flock only by adhering closely to him, his teachings, his Church and indeed intimate friendship with him.

And so, it is easy to distinguish the good from the bad shepherds; the bad ones are “in it for themselves and their own glory” – rather than for the life of the sheep and God’s glory! These others are “thieves and marauders” – they come only to siphon off the spirit and life of God’s family members for their own power and glory! But they will not prevail! In the end God will have his way with these cheaters and hypocrites.

The true and authentic shepherd – after the Lord’s own heart – is the one who freely distributes the life of God among all of the needy ones – especially the poor and the lost – so that in Jesus’ own words “they may have life, and have it in abundance!”

May we not follow bad shepherds today, may we follow the good ones – and may we ourselves be a good shepherd to whomever God places in our path to shepherd – after his own heart!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep and mine know me.


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