Today, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. In the gospel for today, we hear Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd because he lays down his life for his sheep. (Jn 10:11) It is precisely this reality of Jesus being our Good Shepherd that we celebrate in the Easter Season.
Jesus lays down his life for his sheep. Like a good shepherd, Jesus guides his flock; he guides us. He guides his flock to green pastures where they can receive nourishment. He guides them to shelter and helps them through difficult terrain. He protects them from dangers choosing to lay down his life rather than let one of his little sheep be hurt. We see this on Good Friday. Jesus takes upon himself our sins and chooses to die for our sake. Though by our sin we had incurred an unpayable debt, God chose to pay that debt himself rather than to risk us being separated from him. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13 RSVCE) Jesus loves us so much that he gives himself entirely for our good.
But for Jesus, we are more than sheep. As we hear in the second reading from the First Letter of John, we are God’s children. Through Christ, through his death and resurrection, we are not only saved from death, but we are saved for eternal life. Christ joins us to himself, allowing us to participate in his sonship as he journeys back to the Father. My friends, as we continue this Easter Season, let us only remember that Christ has saved us from death, but that he has saved us for the fullness of life that is heaven. Let us continue to strive to reach this life by returning his love.
Daniel Phillips