Fourth Sunday of Easter

Today's Mass Readings

Last week, I invited an unusual group of visitors from India to my parish in Datyon. Two children from the city of Bhopal, India gave an interview to the Catholic Telegraph here at the parish and then later in the evening at the University of Dayton. Sartia and Saafrin are merely 16 years old and they are the victims of one of the worst industrial disasters in history. On Dec 2, 1984, a poisonous gas leak from a Union Carbide factory killed about three thousand people within three hours in Bhopal. Later figures rose to about ten thousand people. Investigators tell us that had the company followed all safety procedures this disaster could have been averted. Obviously, Union Carbide did not follow these procedures to save a mere thirty dollars a day. Moreover, the people in this densely populated neighborhood were not informed either by the company or the Government of India that such poisonous chemicals were being produced there. Twenty-five years later, the contaminated factory remains poisonous, spreading the contamination to larger areas; compensation is being withheld so that people cannot be resettled into cleaner areas; and Dow Chemicals, the new owner of the company refuses to admit any responsibility. The children that came to Dayton is hoping to get a congressional hearing on the issue. Meanwhile thirty thousand people still continue to bear the brunt of what is now called the Bhopal Gas Disaster. It is not a new scenario for us where mere financial profit has become more important than human lives. The slew of layoffs, loss of health care and pension in the recent months is a reminder of the loss of human dignity. Terrorism kills more and more people each day, wars are declared too easily, and our earth is exploited for quicker profits. So when I hear today’s gospel where Jesus says, “A hired man, who is not a shepherd… has no concern for the sheep; I am the good shepherd… and I will lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn 10: 12-13), I am utterly amazed.

So the question that I asked myself was simply this: Why does Christianity boast of a God who lays down his life for the sheep? If God could save the Egyptians through mighty works and deeds, if Jesus could be virginally conceived, if Mary was immaculately conceived, if the Holy Spirit can change bread into wine, then why did the Good Shepherd have to lay down his life for his sheep? Why does God not match selfish, power mongering people and beat them at their game? Why could God not work one of his mighty miracles and save us all? Why did God have to lay down God’s life for the sheep? The answers to these questions are the three practical implications for today.

1. God does not work toward miracles. God did not create the world, work wonders for the Israelites and send Jesus because God wants to show off God’s powers. Rather, God did all this for the sake of relationship. God created man and woman and all in the world for the sake of friendship. The Good Shepherd comes and lays down his life for us because that is what good friends do for each other. God wants us to know, that that in a world that unjustly maximizes profit, in a world that has no reward for loyalty, in a world that exploits others to get things done, we have a friend in God. The Good Shepherd on the cross is a symbol of loyalty, sacrifice, selflessness and love. Today, we evaluate our own lives to make sure that our own relationship with God is not motivated by gain or profits. The Good Shepherd invites us to friendship with him.

2. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down his life for his sheep because as John says in today’s second reading, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us… “ (1 Jn 3:1). Of all the friends that we have, the ones we trust are the ones who have at one point or another sacrificed themselves for us. Of all the friends we have, the one we love most are the ones who have loves us more than themselves. Similarly, if God had sat in his holy place and saved us, the world would not know the meaning of love. And it is true, we can look at the crucifix and the fact that the Son of God was upon it, and say to each other – this is love. God loves us! That is the good news of the entire gospel. That is why John is able to say us today, “Beloved, see what love that Father has for us….” In other words, we know love because the Good Shepherd laid down his life for us.

3. The Good Shepherd lays down his life, because like the Good Shepherd, those for whom he laid down his life must now make a difference like he did. For example, Sarita and Saafrin talked about the exploitation that has robbed them of their childhood. I know a parishioner who was let go off her job a month before she could claim benefits. I know a person who stands the risk of losing his pension after many years of faithful service. I know a betrayal that is wrecking a marriage, I know a young person who took her own life because she was dumped in a relationship. Each of us knows examples of betrayal, lies, and injustice. In such a world we must live like the Good Shepherd. We must make a difference in this world. To be honest in our work when dishonesty could is to be like the Good Shepherd. To care about homeless people, unemployed people, and sick people when uncaring would do is to be like the Good Shepherd. To care about children like Sarita and Saafrin all over the world is to be like the Good Shepherd. To love beyond our human limits is to be like a Good Shepherd. We must make a difference in our world.

Once again, in this bread and wine and Good Shepherd lays down his life for us. Bread will be broken and blood will be shed. As we participate in the life of the Good Shepherd let us give of ourselves for the salvation of the world.

Satish Joseph