Fourth Sunday of Easter

Today, the Good Shepherd’ Sunday it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect in the fact that if Our Lord is not the foundation of our lives, we have no foundation. And we have no life, at least, none worth living.

The question we all need to ask ourselves is: Do we want the Cornerstone? Do we really want Jesus? Or we are people who reduce Jesus to a good man, but not the Son of God and not the foundation on which to build our lives.

If we are determined to be like everyone else in our society, then we will not sense any need for Christ. We live in a society that focuses heavily on self-interest, and on self-gratification, and this is not the way of the Christian.

The only concern of the Christian is Jesus Christ.

Peter, the disciple who denied the Lord, was radically changed by the experience of the Risen Lord. No longer was he focusing on himself. He realized that the meaningful in life did not revolve around him or the other disciples. Everything worthwhile is about Jesus. It must be the same for us. He is the Way the Truth and the Life[1]. He must be the Cornerstone of our lives.

When we preach the good news, when we stand up for Jesus, we are often accepted by others who, like us, wish to change the world. But we are also rejected by many who want nothing to do with Jesus, His Way, or His Life. Have others asked you to join them in something that is against the Life of Jesus within you? Have you ever had to say, “No”. No to drugs. No to alcohol. No to sex outside of marriage. No to gossip. No to destroying someone’s reputation. No to excluding someone from the love of the community. No to cheating, lying, stealing. And when you and I do say “No”, what happens? Quite often, you and I are rejected by others. We need to pray for these people. They are not just rejecting us. They are rejecting the Lord. The stone rejected is Jesus. We live for Jesus. We share His Life, His Love. We also share His rejection, His crucifixion.

All this is also reflected in today’s gospel, the gospel of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He offers Himself up completely for His people. The hired man doesn’t care, but the Good Shepherd does care. He does not count the cost. Nor is He concerned with what He is going to get for Himself. Selfishness is never a factor in the Divine Equation. Jesus loves us so much that He gives all for us. And then He calls us to give this same love to everyone. Are we ready and open to do our best?

As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, may our minds be strengthened by the tenderly presence of the Good Shepherd. And let us humbly ask the Heavenly Father for His grace to shine on our Parish by the power of His Spirit so we may be blessed with religious vocations to fruitfully continue the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ among His children ■

[1] John 14:6.