HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C 2
Today, the 4th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Good Shepherd Sunday, a day that reminds us of the deep and personal relationship between Christ and His followers. Jesus declares, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). This statement is not just a consoling image—it is a call to trust, to listen, to follow, and to live his life.
1. The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep
In the ancient world, shepherds had a unique bond with their flock that transcended mere ownership. The sheep are totally dependent on the shepherd, recognize their voice and follow him with trust.
- This profound relationship is nurtured through daily care, guidance, and protection, as shepherds would often live with their flock and lead them to rich pastures and safe waters.
Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, not only lives with us but has also given His life for us. He knows each of us intimately more than ourselves, and understands our individual struggles, fears, and joys. He calls us by our name, invites us to trust and depend on Him especially in times of uncertainty, and guides us through life’s challenges with unwavering presence.
- His voice, like that of a good shepherd, is not condemnatory, but rather one of love, mercy, gentleness, and truth.
- He offers us comfort and hope in a world filled with chaos and despair. In recognizing His voice, we find not just direction but also a profound sense of belonging and purpose in our journey of faith.
Do we listen to His voice?
2. Listening to the Voice of the Good Shepherd
In today’s noisy world, many voices compete for our attention—voices of our own selfishness, of doubt, fear, materialism, hedonism, and secularism, all of which impede us from hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. But today, Jesus calls us anew to listen to His voice above all and ignore the other voices which lead us to emptiness, sadness and eternal perdition.
How do we recognize His voice?
Through prayer, Scripture, the teachings of the Church and his holy instruments.
- We need to have recourse to these means to regain our interior peace in order to hear Our Lord’s voice who calls us constantly.
- If we struggle against all these worldly distractions which separate us from Him, and immerse ourselves in His Word through prayer, frequent reception of sacraments, constant doctrinal formation, and spiritual direction, we will learn to distinguish His voice from the noise of the world.
3. Following the Good Shepherd and Living His Life
But listening to his word is not enough. We need to follow him to form part of his flock and live His life. What does these mean? To form part of His flock and live his life is to:
- Live by his teachings—as taught by the Church He founded, the Catholic Church.
- Seek holiness—by striving daily to live the life of Christ, imitating Him to be Christ for others by living the virtues he lived and taught during His life on earth and obeying His Will.
- Remain vigilant—by avoiding those sinful paths that lead away from Him.
- Reflect His love—by becoming good shepherds to all who are placed by our side, leading them to Christ.
4. The Promise of Eternal Life
Jesus assures us that those who follow Him will never be lost. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). This is the ultimate promise of the Good Shepherd—He leads us not just through this life but into His eternal joy as well. Even in suffering, He walks with us, offering comfort and hope.
- His presence is a guiding light, illuminating our darkest paths and reminding us that we are never alone. In our moments of despair, we can turn to Him, knowing that His love encompasses us and His grace sustains us.
- As we navigate the challenges of life, we find solace in the knowledge that our faith provides a sturdy foundation amid uncertainty and turmoil.
- Embracing His teachings not only enriches our spiritual journey but also transforms us, and enables us to share His eternal life if we are faithful to Him till death.
- Through every trial, we are invited to deepen our trust in Him, affirming that His promises hold true and that the hope of eternal life is a reality we can embrace today and forevermore.
Conclusion: Follow the Good Shepherd and Live His Life
Unlike earthly leaders who come and go, Jesus remains the eternal Good Shepherd. He walks with us through every valley, offering comfort and reassurance in our moments of doubt and fear. He calls us by name, recognizing our individual struggles and joys, and leads us toward green pastures of His eternal kingdom where love, joy, justice, peace and happiness reign without end.
Dear brethren in Christ, as we reflect on today’s readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we truly listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd? Are we following Him with trust, or are we allowing ourselves to be distracted by the world and be led astray by its false promises? Do we strive daily to live for God, to imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ in His virtues and live his life? Or do we prefer to live for ourselves, following no one else but the voice of our selfishness and disordered self-love and passions?
Today is also the Word day of Prayer for Vocations. Let us also ask God for holy vocations to priesthood, religious life, marriage and apostolic celibacy who will become His holy instruments to guide His flock. Let us also take our vocation to holiness and apostolate seriously for this is the will of Jesus, the eternal Good Shepherd.
Lord Jesus, help us to recognize Your voice amidst the noise of the world. Strengthen our faith, guide our steps, and lead us to eternal life with You. May we renew our commitment to hear Your voice, trust in Your guidance, and follow You faithfully to live Your life and be a good shepherd to others as well. Amen.
A Blessed Good Shepherd Sunday and week ahead!
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
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Thanks and God bless you and your loved ones! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.
