This Sunday’s liturgy centres upon the image of the Good Shepherd. The Psalm & Gospel remind us that God is our Shepherd, guarding us against all evil & guiding us to true happiness in life and eternity. By listening to His voice, we can be among the saints, where we shall never cry, hunger or thirst anymore (Rev 7:16). Rather we shall sing a new song “Song of the Lamb” as scriptures says in Rev 15:3, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” On this Sunday, we are invited to meditate on our Saviour’s merciful tenderness, so that we recognise the rights he acquired over each one of us by his death.
It is also a good opportunity to consider in our prayers, our love for our shepherds (bishops and priests) whom He has left to guide us and keep us in His name. The Old Testament frequently refers to the Messiah as a good Shepherd who must feed, rule and govern God’s people, often abandoned and scattered (Ezk 34:6-15; Jer 23:1-6). The Prophecies of the awaited Shepherd are fulfilled in Jesus, but in him with new features. He is the good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. As opposed to thieves who seek their own interests and destroy the flock, Jesus is the door of salvation; he who enters will find abundant pasture (Jh 10:9-10).
The Gospel tells us that there is a tender relationship between the Good Shepherd and his sheep: He calls each by his name; he leads them, the sheep follow because they know his voice; he is the one and only shepherd who has only one flock; he gives them eternal life; they will never be lost because they are protected by the Father’s love (Jh 10:27-30).
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who gives the unfading crown of glory (1Pet 5:4). Unfortunately, many of us listen to the voice of people who direct us to offend God, our conscience and right reason. When we listen to people counselling us to disobey God and do what He forbids, the end is regret in time and eternity. The unholy voices or fake shepherds are what we see in the First reading from Acts 13:14, 43-53; the Jewish leaders were called to be true shepherds of the people but out of jealousy, instigated others to reject the message of the disciples. They did not even stop there; they incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul & Barnabas.
Consequence to this, the message of salvation and truth was taken from them and given to the Gentiles. Today is also called Vocations Sunday, reminding us that God has work for everyone of us. There may be unemployment in the land but not with God. There is enough work in the vineyard. God is calling some to priestly or religious lives, some are called to different ministries and services. These services form our partnership in the work of evangelization. The questions then are; “What is God calling me to do? What am I doing for God? The work I have been assigned to by God, do I do it well with all my heart & will? When God finally calls me, what account will I give Him? The problem is that instead of working for God and according to His laws, some of us are being used to work against God and against the dictates of His laws. Some of us are agents of disunity, corruption and violence in our country.
Some are and are working for enemies of the Church and her priests. When we work against God, or for earthly gains alone, our rewards are temporal and the end is regret. For God is not unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed to His saints (Heb 6:10). May God bless His words in our hearts!!!
• Rev. Fr. Anthony Eze, Associate Parish Priest, Catholic Church of the Visitation, 1st Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos and Assistant Chaplain, Confraternity of Mary Queen of All Hearts.
