Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2005
John 10

John’s gospel (10:1-30) expands in various ways the image of the Good Shepherd. While the Synoptic parable speaks of God as a shepherd who goes after the lost sheep (Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7), in John’s gospel the Good Shepherd represents Jesus who walks in front of the sheep and calls them. They, in turn, respond, obey and follow him. The two images complete each other: God reaching out to the lost sheep represents Him as He sends his Son; Jesus walking in front of his sheep shows him accomplishing his work of salvation as he undergoes his sacrificial death and enters into glory.

The sheep flocking behind Jesus and taking upon themselves his destiny are secure because the Father does not allow that "anyone" would be able to take them away from him. In John's gospel this image is concretely realized in the Passion narrative when, at Jesus' arrest, the disciples manage to walk away unharmed. Thus, it is fulfilled that none of them is lost (18:4). But on a larger canvas the sheep represent the Christian walking through temptation, persecution and suffering without harm because the Father does not allow the Evil One to mislead or overpower them. The guarantee of their security -- the guarantee that belonging to Jesus assures their safety -- is contained in the last sentence: "I and the Father are one."

We are invited in this context to understand that the claim of Jesus' divinity is neither pretentious nor arrogant, but its truth is rather comforting and full of sweet consolation. God is not distant, not hidden in transcendence. In our sufferings and every trial of dying, He himself walks in front of us, fulfilling the truth the Psalm: "Even if I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil. For you are with me: your rod and staff will give me comfort" (Ps 23:4).

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