Easter 4 C – George Yandell
The scene in the gospel has Jesus at the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jewish leaders query Jesus, “Are you the messiah? Tell us plainly.” He uses a figure that was in the minds of the people- from intertestamental writings, from the psalms and prophets- “You don’t get it, because you don’t belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice- I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life- no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Jesus ends with the radical statement, “The Father and I are one”.
The scene occurs in winter at the temple, in the City of David and the Seat of Orthodoxy. Right out there, in front of God, the doctors of orthodoxy (and anyone else who happened to be on hand), Jesus utters the unthinkable to the strict Hebrew monotheists. Yes, he and the Father God of Israel are one. One in spirit? One in being? One in like-mindedness? One in personality? The particulars are not mentioned. But enough is enough. Even to insinuate, even to give the slightest impression that this hillbilly rabbi from Galilee who speaks with an accent is equivalent to the HOLY ONE of Israel is beyond laughable; it is dangerous blasphemy of the highest order. Somehow, Jesus escapes a stoning on the spot—only to endure death by crucifixion a short time later. [Adapted from King Oehmig’s article in Synthesis, May, 2013.]
Listen to these passages from writings in our Apocrypha, circulating in Israel in the years before Jesus was born – keep in mind that the shepherd’s staff has two useful ends: a crook for drawing the sheep away from danger, and a blunt end for prodding them toward places they would rather not go. A good shepherd both protects and agitates as needed. [Shepherd’s crook information from Christian Century, March 30, 2016 in an article by Austin Crenshaw Shelley.]
Judith
Then I will lead you through Judea,until you come to Jerusalem; there I willset your throne. You will drive them likesheep that have no shepherd, and no dogwill so much as growl at you. For thiswas told me to give me foreknowledge;it was announced to me, and I was sentto tell you (11:19).
Sirach
The compassion of human beings is for their neighbors, but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing. He rebukes and trains and teaches them, and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock (18:13).
2 Esdras
Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, Wait for your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand (2:34). Rise therefore and eat some bread, and do not forsake us, like a shepherd who leaves the flock in the power of savage wolves (5:18).
As we continue the season of resurrection, this week brings home the “Shepherd” metaphor- it appears in three of the four readings. Two underlying messages emerge:
1) In Christ, life is found even in the face of death—from Peter’s raising of Tabitha; to the Psalmist’s confidence of traveling through the valley of the shadow of death to finally dwell in God’s house; to the heavenly gathering of those who have died as martyrs in the persecution of followers of the Way; to Jesus’ promise that his sheep receive eternal life from him, the message of life beyond death is clear.
2) The Shepherd is also a messianic and a subversive image. Where the leaders of Israel had failed to be faithful shepherds, and where the Roman Empire had slaughtered followers (sheep) of Christ, Jesus stands as the one who has died but has risen— defying the death-dealing powers that be, and winning life and security for his sheep.
The last few years have left the world reeling in shock, from the repeated impact of natural disasters, to revelations of corruption in many governments, to ongoing wars in Ukraine and Africa, to the growing concern about climate change, to the economic crises across the globe. In the midst of all of this bad news, the message of resurrection is both a comfort and a call to remain strong and courageous in working for a just and peaceful world. In addition, this week’s readings speak a prophetic message to those in any kind of leadership, challenging them to be true, life-giving shepherds, and calling us to hold them accountable, while retaining our primary allegiance to Jesus as the one true Shepherd.
The dual themes of this week are an invitation to Christian communities and individuals to enter more fully, and more practically, into the Easter story. On one hand, we all face the threat of death—the big deaths of loss of loved ones or personal tragedy, and the small ones of broken relationships or difficult life circumstances—and we need to be reminded that life is found in the midst of death. The comfort this message offers is also a call to keep faith, to continue to strive to live in compassionate and life-giving ways, and to live fully our own leadership—as parents, educators, business or community leaders. To live our own leadership as good shepherds, providing, protecting and guiding those under our care. Ultimately, when justice fails in any community, it is both a crisis of leadership and a crisis of faith. The resurrection addresses both needs, and gives us the resources we need to engage the hurting places in our world. [Adapted from sacredise.com.]
I end with a story that underscores to me the meaning of Jesus as shepherd to his sheep- he conveyed this meaning to everyone he met, even after his resurrection. Recall how he said, “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” [Luke 13: 34]
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried out from under their dead mother’s wings.
The bird, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings as the toxic smoke rose. Perhaps she could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and as the heat scorched her, the mother had remained steadfast. She had been willing to die so that those under the cover of her wings would live. As the psalm says it, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Ps. 91:4). Death yields life, even from the tomb. Easter is for everyone, every being everywhere, now. [From Synthesis Issue for Easter 4]