Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B: Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday – April 22, 2018.

Readings: Acts 4:8-12; Ps 117:1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29; 1 John 3:1-2; 

Gospel – John 10:11-18.

Theme: Of a Name and the Good Shepherd!

Introduction

Dearly beloved in Christ, today the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday otherwise known as Vocation Sunday. On a day like this, we pray for an increase in priestly and religious vocation. We equally pray for parents who have embraced the vocation to the married life so that God may help them to nurture their children in the faith in a manner that these kids would grow to embrace service to God and humanity in the Church. It is not out of place to pray for missionaries who have left home and everything to follow Christ that God would renew the zeal of their missionary mandate so that they may not grow weary in the sacred task of evangelisation. 

With these prayerful sentiments in mind, we shall reflect on the theme: “Of a Name and the Good Shepherd.” Our reflection shall touch on the impact of the name of “Christ” and the role of ministers of the Word and Sacraments as true shepherds of souls. It shall call all to embrace holiness given the fact that everyone is a shepherd in his or her capacity.      

Summary of the Readings

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:8-12), we are told how Peter filled with the Holy Spirit dared the rulers and elders of the people by empathically stating that they healed a crippled man by the name of Christ. He reiterated thrice that it is “by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene…by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy…” He surmised thus: “For all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved. This is a pointer to the fact that there’s something in a name. We shall come back to this!

St. John tells us in the second reading (1 John 3:1-2) that although what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed, he assured that when it is revealed, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. What is instructive is that the sacred text calls us to reflect about the love the Father lavished upon us “by letting us be called God’s children” noting that “that is what we are.” Again, the point about name comes out strongly because it suggests that the name we enjoy is “God’s children.”

The gospel text (John 10:11-18) brings out the theme of Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday. In it, Jesus reveals his name twice as “The Good Shepherd.” He goes ahead to state that unlike the hired man who deserts the sheep in the face of danger, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Jesus insists: “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” Because he knows each of his own and calls them by name, he reveals that other sheep of his who are not of this fold listen to his voice. He stresses that the command given to him by the father is that of love which necessitates freely laying down his life for his sheep. 

Practical Lessons

1. Today, Pastors of souls are charged to remember that leadership in the Church must reflect the image of the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:1-18).

2. Priests are reminded to be true shepherds by managing themselves, the structures and the resources of the Church and society entrusted to them, well.

3. Priests and Religious have the mandate to mentor the young ones by becoming life couches who would be role models for the young.

4. The lay faithful are urged to recall their baptismal commitments in the light of embracing the vocation to the married life which is a catalyst for vocations to the priestly and religious life.

4. Parents are charged to fulfill the demands of Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday by nurturing their children in the faith and urging them to embrace the priestly and religious life.

5. Children are tasked to look up to Jesus the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them while sharing their motivation and interest to join the service of the Lord with their friends, parents/guardians and pastors.

6. We are called to pray for missionaries who have sacrificed material comfort, marital and family life to embrace the life of holiness through the evangelical counsels so that they may not grow cold in their witnessing.

7. We must not forget priests and religious whose witnessing has been rocked by a scandal and so have either left active ministry or are suffering from guilt and shame so that God may restore his anointing in them.

8. On Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday, the Church expects that we pray for an increase in vocations so that God raises men and women with genuine call to embrace this call and lead the Church in the path of truth, faith and love.

9. Since it is our collective responsibility to grow the Church pastorally and structurally, we are challenged to support the Church financially by choosing to sponsor a seminarian, brother or sister.

10. We are reminded that God knows each one of us by name that is why we are called “God’s children” and he, “the Good Shepherd.”

11. Our liturgy reveals that nothing is impossible with God because there is something in his name which surpasses all we can ever think of or imagine.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Everyone is a shepherd in his or her capacity.

2. The gospel text brings out the theme of Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday.

3. Because he knows each of his own and calls them by name, he reveals that other sheep of his who are not of this fold listen to his voice.

4. Pastors of souls are charged to remember that leadership in the Church must reflect the image of the Good Shepherd.

5. God knows each one of us by name that is why we are called “God’s children” and he, “the Good Shepherd.”

Conclusion

On Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday, the theme: “Of a Name and the Good Shepherd” requires that we never forget that God knows each one of us individually and he identifies the difficulties we are facing and will address them at his own time. As the Good Shepherd, he carries us on his shoulders; he has made additional provision by raising men and women of God who would assist him in caring for his flock and leading them to green pastures – Should they disappoint or scandalize us, we must never forget that Christ holds both shepherds and the sheep in the hollow of his palms – he never fails. This is why we ought to pray for our human shepherds who must not lose track of their calling to lead us to refreshing waters. Since everyone is a shepherd in his or her capacity, may God help us all, priests, religious and the lay faithful to revere the name of our Chief Shepherd by which we can be saved. Amen. Happy Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday!