THE SHEPHERD’S CALL

V/​ I will turn to you O God, 

R/​ to God who gives joy to my youth

V/​ Give me the Wisdom that sits by your throne; 

R/ that I may be counted among your children

Lord, in your all-providential plan, you have led me to this moment to rediscover me in your Word and Wisdom. Aid me to make this time of meditation and prayer enriching, transforming, and liberating for my well-being and others. Amen!

THE SHEPHERD’S CALL

By Fr. Luke-Dominic Onwe

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C

Act 13: 14, 43-52; Psalm 100 (99): 1-3, 5; Revelation: 7: 9,13-17; John 10: 27-30

11th May 2025

Today we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus is the good shepherd who never leaves his flock unattended. The readings of today make this practical and visible. The psalm tells us that ‘we are his people, the sheep of his flock.’ Truly, God has called all of us into his sheepfold. We are members of his flock. Everyone is included, and no one is excluded except anyone who chooses to exclude themselves.

The first reading shows us the universality of this call and invitation. Paul, in his speech, accuses the Jews of rejecting the message of salvation. Already, it was in the original plan of God to incorporate all nations, races, tongues… However, their rejection of the Gospel facilitated and quickened the missio ad gentes (mission to the world) by the apostles. God chose the people of Israel as his firstborn, so that through them other nations may come to know and worship God. St. Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6 to remind them of their initial call and vocation, which they have rejected: “I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.”

This universal call of God is apt in our second reading. John sees a multitude impossible to count, from every nation, race, tribe and language. It is no longer the Jewish people who felt they had the privileged position of being the only chosen people of God. By accepting Jesus, by receiving baptism, we become children of God, those whom he has redeemed with the precious blood of his Son. However, belonging to this flock could bring about persecution. We could be buffeted from every side by those opposed to this mission of Christ. John tells us that the multitudes are the “people who have been through the great persecution and have washed their robes white in the blood of the lamb.” It is ironic and paradoxical to wash oneself clean in blood. It means they have been purified and chastened through participating in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. In all this, the good shepherd always tends to them and brings them comfort.

The gospel passage vividly brings the role of the members of the flock: “the sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” And the reward of being faithful to the shepherd is eternal life.

Dear friends, the question we need to ask ourselves is: whose voice do we listen to? Who do I follow? There are many voices today calling on us and instructing us to follow them. Many of these voices certainly lead us astray and away from God. Which do we incline to? To really listen to the voice of the shepherd, we need to attune our ears to him and get accustomed to him. Other voices may be louder and deafening, but the voice of the Good Shepherd is always persistent, consistent and penetrating. It is heard in silence. This listening, however, is paramount to following him. It is not enough to listen, but it must be followed by a conscious effort to follow his lead.

The good news is that we are rest assured of the security he offers when we follow him. Safe in this knowledge that they cannot be taken from the hand of the shepherd, those who hear his voice follow as faithful believers willing to go where God leads and sends them. When the clamour of false and seductive voices threatens, they remain faithful and resolute because they know the voice of the shepherd, to whom they listen very carefully.

Let us then, strive to listen carefully to this voice of the shepherd calling us and sending us to become a light to others so that his salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Let us not shy away or reject his call. If we have not heard his call or his voice, then it is because we have not listened to him, or we are still distracted by the noise around us. Let us pray, therefore for the grace of listening and following the shepherd, that the eternal life promised may be ours.