Dearly beloved in Christ, we thank the Lord for His blessings and protection upon us, may His mane be praised both now and forever, amen. Today the fourth Sunday of Easter, the Holy mother Church celebrates the Good Shepherd Sunday, also known as Vocation Sunday.

Today, you and I are called to reflect on the live of Jesus as the Shepherd of our souls, and, not just as the Shepherd of our souls alone, but as the Good Shepherd of our souls, for indeed, He is the Good Shepherd who takes care of us even when we are not worthy of it.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd loves and cares for us, so much that He was willing and ready to lay down His life for us, and that, He did willingly.

Our first reading of today from the Acts of the Apostles, shows how the apostles continued the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. They continued the mandate of the Lord to them when He told them that; “…I will make you fishers of men…” (Cf. Matt. 4:19). Their action show that Christ came for the salvation of all of us (his sheep), for indeed, we all are of the same fold. As the Good Shepherd of all nations, He offers us salvation and protection through the good news, and, this is because it is His wish that you and I be saved.

Many times in the Gospels, especially the Gospel of St. John, Christ calls Himself the Good Shepherd and used different expressions to show us that He is the Good Shepherd. Today in our Gospel reading, Christ shows to us an intimate relationship between Himself; the Good Shepherd, and us; His flock. He says to us that; ‘the sheep hears His voice and He knows them, they follow Him and He gives them eternal life…’ (Cf Jn. 10:27). This shows that, if we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, we are assured of His love, care, and protection.

Many times, we are like the Jews in our first reading of today, who are jealous of the other sheep of God and so, we are filled with lots of hatred, jealousy, envy, anger etc. and these stop us from listening to the voice of the shepherd and following the shepherd, and as such, we loose out of the protection, warmth, shelter etc. that the shepherd gives to the sheep. We have forgotten that the Good Shepherd came to bring all men to Himself that we all may have life and have it in abundance.

Until we listen the voice of the shepherd who knows each of us by name, by attitude, by character etc. we would not have eternal life and we may be out of the embrace of the shepherd, where we would be suffering in the wild.

The Good Shepherd stands and waits eagerly for you and I, He wants to lead us to the streams of eternal life, but, the Good Shepherd would not force us to enter into His embrace. Our Good Shepherd says to us; “Behold I stand at the door of your heart and knock.  If you open the door, I will come in” (Rev 3:20). It is important for you and I to open the door of our heart to the Good Shepherd, and listen to his voice, so that He can lead us to pasture, so, let us not walk away from Him.

We all are shepherds in various categories and we must learn a lesson from the Good Shepherd today. We must learn to cater for the sheep of God entrusted to us, we must learn to have an amazing relationship with them, and must protect them against all odds, so that they’re at peace with God.

To be a Good Shepherd is to be ready to lay down our lives for the sheep of God entrusted to us, even when it is difficult, for Christ did the same thing for you and I. May the Lord give us the grace to be shepherds after His own heart, and may the Lord raise us for Himself, shepherds who would lead his flock to greener pastures, amen

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday to you all, and, Happy Vocation Sunday.  May the Lord of the harvest send more labourers into His field, Amen.