John 10:11-18 Sheep like Shepherds

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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Jesus said:  “I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

For those who ride horses, it must be annoying to see a horse, once fully washed, roll in the dirt!  Sometimes you wonder if a horse can really appreciate all the love it receives.

I’ve been reading C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Problem of Pain.”  In it, he writes: 

“If God is love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness.  And it appears, from all the records, that though He has often rebuked us and condemned us, He has never regarded us with contempt.  He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.”

He then goes on to say that our unique relationship with God “can be apprehended only by analogies.”   No wonder the Lord uses the analogy of a shepherd with his sheep.  While it is an example we can all observe and relate to, and is somewhat familiar to us; it is, at the same time, difficult to comprehend and a bit shocking, at least for the sheep.

A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.  Because of our nature, we can express love in various ways.  One way, universally understood by all, is through our actions.  We all know that the more you love someone, the more you sacrifice for them.

Hence, it’s not hard to understand why a husband (or wife) would sacrifice their life for their spouse; they are confident the other would do the same.  It's not hard to understand why a father (or mother) would sacrifice their life for their child.  They know that one day their child will grow to understand and appreciate it.  Now I would submit to you that it isn’t hard to understand why someone would sacrifice their life for someone they don’t even know (or love).  We know, and are convinced by history, that that kind of love is met with great fanfare.

But to sacrifice one’s life for an animal?  Especially an animal that can hardly comprehend what its master thinks or does?  That’s hard to grasp, not only for ourselves but for the animal as well!  But here, I think, is where we now begin to penetrate the heart and mind of God’s love for us.   

In today’s first reading, the Lord tells Peter to evangelize the pagans.  This type of love is hard for the Jews to understand.  After all, they are God’s chosen people.  But God’s love, it turns out, reaches out and goes beyond any chosen ones. 

His love, in fact, even reaches out to us! 

This morning I celebrated Mass at a local Catholic High School.  Prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, I asked the kids if they had any prayer intentions.  No one spoke up.  Not a single student.   I told them they just proved to me the point I made in my homily; that is, “God’s love is superior to ours.” 

I questioned them:  “Are you going to tell me that no one here could think of anyone who might need our prayers?  Did any of you remember the victims of West, Texas?  Did anyone think of the Boston bombing victims?  Did any of you think of praying for the terrorists?  You see, unlike God, we have a tendency to remain in our own little world.  Now maybe some of you are thinking about what you have next, or some big exam that is coming up, but try to think of your next door neighbor and what they may be going through.” 

God’s love for us is so undeserving.  Like that of a shepherd, He has entered into a relationship (marriage?) that belittles Him and is unworthy of Him.  Let's face it:  His love outweighs and outperforms our love for Him.  God’s love for us goes beyond our comprehension, period.  And as sheep can never love like the shepherd, or even sacrifice like the shepherd, so mankind can never reach the depths or the heights of the Good Shepherd’s love.  We try, but hesitate.  We buckle and collapse under peer pressure or under our very own doubts and weaknesses.  

God loves the sinner.  He loves the atheist.  He loves those who do not acknowledge Him or even love Him.  He suffered and died for all of us, even while we looked down and went about grazing in His fields.

Although God’s love goes beyond our abilities and comprehension, some sheep are trying harder than others to be more like their shepherd.  It’s impossible, but it’s worth trying.  It makes a lot of difference.