FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
(Acts 13:14, 43-52; Revelation 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30)
Just as the Second Sunday of Easter has been named
"Divine Mercy Sunday," this Fourth Sunday of Easter is called
"Good Shepherd Sunday." Always on this Sunday we read part of the
discourse of the Good Shepherd found in the Gospel according to John. Today we have
read what amounts to the conclusion of the discourse.
The reading emphasizes three points. First, his sheep listen
to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. That is, his followers hear and heed
his words. Although they challenge ("you also must wash one another's
feet"), they also comfort ("I will not leave you orphans; I will come
back to you"). Whether chastising or supporting, the voice of the Good
Shepherd always speaks the truth that sets us free.
Second, no one snatches the sheep from the hands of the Good
Shepherd. This is not possible because the sheep only follow his voice. The
sheep know that he will lead them to the green pastures of eternal life. If
anyone has fled to non-Christian religions, it is because they have not
listened to the voice of the Shepherd.
Finally, Jesus says that he and the Father are one. This
phrase is not intended as proof that Jesus is God. Rather, it indicates that
the two -- Father and Son -- are united in love. During the Last Supper with
his disciples, Jesus will pray to the Father that all his disciples may be so
united: "As you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be
one in us" (17:21b).
The new pope is the successor of Peter, whom Jesus chose to
be his vicar. As Peter spoke with the voice of Christ, so must the new pope. He
must faithfully pass on Jesus' teachings so that no one is led astray from the
path to eternal life. Equally necessary, he must keep everyone close to him so
that no one can take them away. This implies that people feel his love. Pope
Francis won the affection of the world when he kissed the man whose face was
covered with tumors. We hope that the new pope will not lack this kind of
demonstrable love.
There have not been large numbers of Christians leaving
belief in Jesus Christ for other religions. However, many Christians have
rejected the pope as their vicar. First, the Orthodox separated from the
Catholic Church. Then, evangelicals denied the authority of the Bishop of Rome.
This second group has accepted moral practices that do not correspond to those
of the Catholic Church. The new pope must seek ways that will unify Christians,
at least in charitable works and hopes, as they are united in faith and
Baptism.
In addition to being a pastor, the new pope will have other
roles. Like Peter, he must be a fisher of men and women. As the world's most
well-known moral force, he must remind national leaders of the need to resolve
conflicts through dialogue and compromise. One of the greatest popes in history
gave himself and all popes who have come after him another role. Saint Gregory the Great called himself, the “servant
of the servants of God.” Like Christ and
all Christians, the pope must serve.
