The flock of Jesus: sheep and shepherds. Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)

On this fourth Sunday of Easter, often referred to as the Good Shepherd Sunday, We return to the Gospel according to John after last week's passage from the Gospel according to Luke. The first three Sundays of Easter presented us with scenes of the risen Christ appearing to his disciples. Now, St. John introduces us to one of Jesus' great discourses, rich in images and figures of speech.

Today, Jesus presents Himself, not only as the Good Shepherd, but even more strikingly as the door: “I am the gate of the sheep..., I am the gate of the sheep..., I am the gate of the sheep..., I am the gate of the sheep....”. Before speaking of shepherds and sheep, we must first pass through the gate. Christ himself is the entrance, the access, the way to life.

We are encouraged to be part of Jesus“ flock as both sheep and shepherds. Only those who enter for Christ can truly be shepherds; only those who learn to recognize his voice can truly follow him as sheep. Jesus establishes a very clear criterion: "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but leapeth out at another place, the same is a thief and a robber: but he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”. The true pastor is the one who enters through the door. The authenticity of any pastor is measured by his relationship with Christ. He must go through Christ. He must belong to Christ. He must love Christ.

Jesus asked Peter three times before his ascension: “What is your answer?You love me?”. Only after Peter professed his love did Jesus confide to him these words, “Feed my sheep”. Love is the door. To love Christ totally is the way to enter.

The first reading of the Acts of the Apostles shows us Peter acting as a shepherd. On the day of Pentecost, Peter demonstrates that he has indeed passed through that door of love. He stands up and speaks, not with mere rhetoric, but with the voice of Christ resounding in him. His words pierce hearts. The people do not simply applaud; they are heartbroken and exclaim: “...".“What do we have to do, brothers?”That day about three thousand people were added to the flock. The flock grows because the voice of the Shepherd is heard in the voice of Peter.

The sign of every true pastor in the Church is to make the voice of Christ resound. Authority is born of communion with the Lord. This is why Peter can later speak of Christ as the “shepherd".“shepherd and guardian of your souls”. He knows he is a shepherd only because he first belongs to the Shepherd.

Sheep also have a responsibility. They are not passive. Jesus says they recognize his voice. They even flee from strangers because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. There is an instinctive sense to recognize the voice of Christ. This instinct grows with closeness to Him, with a life of prayer and sacraments. The more time we spend with Christ, the more clearly we recognize his voice. In a world full of competing voices - political, social, ideological, digital - it is essential to distinguish the voice of Christ from all others if we are to remain in his flock.

Today the Church also invites us to pray for vocations. From among the sheep, God calls shepherds who allow their voice to become the voice of Christ. But vocations flourish where love for Christ is strong. Where the flock listens attentively to the Shepherd, new shepherds emerge.