Good Shepherd Sunday (A); April 26, 2026

Acts 2:14,36-41.  Ps 23.  1 Pt 2:20-25.  Jn 10:1-10

Deacon Jim McFadden

Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which presents us one of the most beautiful images that has portrayed our

Lord Jesus since the earliest centuries of the Church: The Good Shepherd. For those of us raised in a city, the image may not resonate.

The mention of sheep may conjure up the image of a warm coat or a good meal. If we’ve seen pictures of rural Ireland, we may have seen the green hills dotted with the wooly animals, but very few of us would regard sheep as familiar companions, nor appreciate their relationship with the shepherd. Thus, we might not appreciate the depths of intimacy captured in the declaration, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

So, we need to stand before the Gospel of John in chapter 10, with an open mind and heart because he describes the special features of the relationship between Christ the Good Shepherd and his flock, a relationship so close that no one will ever be able to snatch the sheep from his hand.

Why’s that? Well, for one thing, Jesus guarantees the relationship. You see, you have been given by the Father to his Son, Jesus. As Jesus said earlier in John 6,

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise him on the last day” (Jn 6:37- 39).

Brothers, Jesus will not let go of you. As his sheep you are united to him by a bond of love and of mutual knowledge. This love is not

conditioned, it’s not even conditioned by our sins. So, if you remain in Jesus, you will participate in supernatural life here and now, which will culminate in the immeasurable gift of eternal life.

This relationship is not a one-way street: we must have a certain kind of attitude to the Good Shepherd, Christ, which John presents in

today’s gospel. This attitude hinges on two verbs: “to listen” and “to follow.” These two terms suggest the fundamental characteristics of those who embrace Jesus as their Good Shepherd.

First of all, by listening to his word our faith is first born. His Word enters our mind and heart, which brings us to a Crossroad: I’m

either for Jesus or against him. There is no in between. Jesus is forcing the issue. We’ve heard the Word; now, where do we stand with him? If

we’ve been going to the Quiet, if we’ve been reflecting upon his written Word, our Faith will be nurtured. Our thoughts, words, and deeds will gradually become less ego-centric and become more Christ-like. As we’re attentive to the Lord’s voice, our conscience will become sharp and clear as it guides us to make the right decisions for acting according to the Father’s will.

Listening leads to following. As the great Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said “Christianity without discipleship is cheap

grace.” Once we’ve listen to the Lord, once we’ve inwardly accepted the Master’s teachings, then we’ve got to put them into practice every day. Remember what I said earlier: Jesus will never reject you; you have

been given to him by his Father. He knows you by your name. He’s is calling you to follow him. As you do that in your ordinary experience,  your life will resonate with joy, peace, and an inner calm. These blessings will finally culminate by realizing your final destiny: eternal life.

What’s the alternative? The same mindless games of immorality, impurity, greed, and idolatry? We’ve all tried them and we know that they lead nowhere. They don’t bring life, but just the opposite: the fruits of sin is death.

Jesus is the Way home! He is our Good Shepherd, who has gathered us together. We are members of the same flock—we are in

this together! He’s leading us out, showing us the Way. Let us be a strong flock; let us be united by our common faith and trust in the Good Shepherd. Let us venture out and follow Jesus. Let us listen and follow! Amen.