April 26, 2015: 4th Sunday of Easter B
Click to hear Audio Homily
How would you describe one of your friends whom you admire the most? An Italian journalist was asked to describe his unusual friend. "Someone asked me what would be the quality that I would most highlight; it is difficult to decide on only one, but one is his sensitivity, his attentiveness to the other person, his listening, being sensitive to what the other person needs. He worked a lot in prisons, something that is not very well known. He went to hospitals a lot; he went to the retirement homes. He stands out for always having approached the neediest." The journalist was describing his Argentinian friend, Cardinal Bergoglio, who is now Pope Francis. Many identify him as the “good shepherd” described in today’s reading.
In today’s Gospel passage, there are two people engaged in the same work - tending sheep. However, each of them approach their roles with vastly different attitudes. The hireling does not have his heart in his work, for minding the sheep is just a job. He does his work because he has to and not because he want to. The quality of his work is not important to him, but his wage are.
The good shepherd, on the other hand, has his heart in his work and thus minding the sheep is a labor of love. Tending the sheep is not just a job -- it is his life! In one sense, the job is harder for the good shepherd because he puts more of himself into it. However, in another sense, the job is easier because it enables him to bring all his energies and talents to it. I think we would all agree that the easiest actions are those that flow from love.
The hireling’s work suffers because he only gives a part of himself to it. He may have an easier life, but he derives no satisfaction from his work. When he stops caring about the quality of his work, something corrosive happens to his soul and thus he suffers. The good shepherd puts his entire self into tending the sheep and he prospers because the work brings out the best of him.
Jesus is the supreme example of the Good shepherd. He gave his life for his sheep. We must always remember that his life wasn’t taken from him -- He gave it because he cared about his sheep. He gave his life as a loving fulfillment of the Father’s will and he saw his whole life as an act of obedience to the Father. Death was not the end; He took up his life again in the resurrection. Jesus trusted the Father that He would not abandon him.
Each one of us is called to be a loving caring person, that is, to imitate the Good Shepherd. This has to begin at home, with our own spouse, our children, and grand-children. If we love well, then this love will spread beyond the confines of our homes into our work and community. Often we think God’s asking us to be someone great. But our one vocation in our earthly life is to love as Our Lord loved, meaning to be willing to sacrifice for others in our daily life.
You are the Shepherd, I belong to you
When I walk on rough ground, you can guide me through
You know my name, you know my voice
Before I was born I was your choice
Show me how to follow, Lord keep me close to you
You are the Shepherd, I belong to you
-Fr Paul Yi
How would you describe one of your friends whom you admire the most? An Italian journalist was asked to describe his unusual friend. "Someone asked me what would be the quality that I would most highlight; it is difficult to decide on only one, but one is his sensitivity, his attentiveness to the other person, his listening, being sensitive to what the other person needs. He worked a lot in prisons, something that is not very well known. He went to hospitals a lot; he went to the retirement homes. He stands out for always having approached the neediest." The journalist was describing his Argentinian friend, Cardinal Bergoglio, who is now Pope Francis. Many identify him as the “good shepherd” described in today’s reading.
In today’s Gospel passage, there are two people engaged in the same work - tending sheep. However, each of them approach their roles with vastly different attitudes. The hireling does not have his heart in his work, for minding the sheep is just a job. He does his work because he has to and not because he want to. The quality of his work is not important to him, but his wage are.
The good shepherd, on the other hand, has his heart in his work and thus minding the sheep is a labor of love. Tending the sheep is not just a job -- it is his life! In one sense, the job is harder for the good shepherd because he puts more of himself into it. However, in another sense, the job is easier because it enables him to bring all his energies and talents to it. I think we would all agree that the easiest actions are those that flow from love.
The hireling’s work suffers because he only gives a part of himself to it. He may have an easier life, but he derives no satisfaction from his work. When he stops caring about the quality of his work, something corrosive happens to his soul and thus he suffers. The good shepherd puts his entire self into tending the sheep and he prospers because the work brings out the best of him.
Jesus is the supreme example of the Good shepherd. He gave his life for his sheep. We must always remember that his life wasn’t taken from him -- He gave it because he cared about his sheep. He gave his life as a loving fulfillment of the Father’s will and he saw his whole life as an act of obedience to the Father. Death was not the end; He took up his life again in the resurrection. Jesus trusted the Father that He would not abandon him.
Each one of us is called to be a loving caring person, that is, to imitate the Good Shepherd. This has to begin at home, with our own spouse, our children, and grand-children. If we love well, then this love will spread beyond the confines of our homes into our work and community. Often we think God’s asking us to be someone great. But our one vocation in our earthly life is to love as Our Lord loved, meaning to be willing to sacrifice for others in our daily life.
You are the Shepherd, I belong to you
When I walk on rough ground, you can guide me through
You know my name, you know my voice
Before I was born I was your choice
Show me how to follow, Lord keep me close to you
You are the Shepherd, I belong to you
-Fr Paul Yi
