Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Today's Readings:
Acts 11:1-18
Ps 42:2-3; 43:3-4
John 10:11-18

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/041408.shtml

The joy of being sheep

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd. We are the sheep for whom he has dedicated his life and for whom he is willing to sacrifice his life. We are the sheep he protects from the wolfish evil spirits who want to snatch us away from him to devour us. We are the sheep who stay in his protection by recognizing our Shepherd's voice and following him to better pastures.

Many of us have never been around sheep enough to really understand what it means to be sheep, but we DO know how it feels to be cared for and guided by Jesus. And yet, how easily we forget the goodness of his shepherding when life doesn't go as planned, i.e., OUR plan, according to what WE want.

In frustration and fear, we assume that Jesus has left the sheepfold — you know, he's gone after that lost sheep and he's left us behind to fend for ourselves, and oh my this is surely when the wolves attack! Doesn't he realize that? How could he abandon us if he really cares about us?

For example: Think of the last time you doubted that God would answer your prayers or that he would ever rescue you from a troubling situation.

This IS when the wolves attack. But not because Jesus has left us. He hasn't. He's prodding us with his shepherd's staff, trying to get us to move in a different direction. He's calling our name, trying to tell us what to do and what not to do so that we will remain safe. He's warning us about the wolves. The problem is, we're not listening. Why not? Because there's something about the wolves — something they are doing or saying — that appeals to us.

The Shepherd's voice calls out to us through many different methods of communication: Church teachings, our consciences (if they are well formed), the lyrics of Christian music, homilies, spiritual directors, confessors, friends who know our situations and even strangers (or friends) who don't have a clue about our struggles. Sometimes, the Shepherd speaks to us through that black sheep on the far side of the pasture who is least likely to be one of Christ's ambassadors.

It takes extra humility to recognize the Shepherd's voice when he seems to be silently absent. To be "sheepy", we have to be open to the prodding of the Shepherd's staff at all times, because he sees pits and wolves and good pastures and sweet streams that we cannot see. We have to be prayerfully conscious of our sheepyness in order to remain safe. Only then can we experience the freedom and joy of not needing to figure everything out by ourselves.

Stand still, little sheepy one, and listen.....