Fourth Sunday of Easter
One of the television shows that I have been intrigued by is Shark Tank. The show revolves around four filthy-rich entrepreneurs who at one time were themselves poor. They are the ‘sharks’ in the show. Each week amateur entrepreneurs appear before them with prospective business ideas. The game plan is to get ‘sharks’ to buy shares in their company in exchange for cash. If the sharks think that there is money to be made they negotiate with these amateurs to make a deal. But here is the thing – it is always about the money. For example, one entrepreneur wanted to keep his manufacturing unit in the country. The reason the ‘sharks’ did not invest in that project was because that would mean lower profits. The show in many ways is a reflection of society. I want to say that there is something evil about the dynamic at work. Self-respect, dignity, charity, patriotism, integrity – they are all expendable for money.
Since I am very susceptible to defeatism, sometimes Christianity, my life, and everything I stand for seems so irrelevant to the times. Today’s gospel reading, for example, is radically contrary to the political and economic system on which that nations across the world are based. It is about the Good Shepherd who functions within a totally different paradigm – the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
So the question that I asked myself is simply this: Why does Christianity boast of a God who lays down his life for the sheep? If God could save the Israelites through mighty works and deeds; if Jesus could be virginally conceived; if Mary could be 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 to exhibit God’s powers or because we are expandable beings. Rather, God did all this for the sake of relationship. God created man and woman and all in it 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. The Good Shepherd gave laid down his life for his sheep so that those of us who feel like giving up can still find strength; so that the poor and vulnerable can still find goodness; so that self-serving power and senseless profit may never be the last word; so that friendship still has meaning in the world.
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, aren’t the ones we trust also the ones who make sacrifices for us? Of all the friends we have are the ones we love most also the ones who have love us more than themselves. God could have sat up in heaven and saved us, but that would not be love. Today, we can look at the crucifix and say to each other – this is love. God loves us! 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. When we read the scriptures we realize that in the midst of evil, the cross stood tall. On the one hand, the cross symbolized evil. But the Good Shepherd who hung on the cross was the epitome of everything that was noble, sacred and godly. In spite of all the shame the cross stood for, today, it is a testimony for truth, honor, love, faith and selflessness. Yes, there is much evil around us. But precisely in such a world the good shepherd teaches us how to live meaningfully. The Good Shepherd teaches us never to give up. The Good Shepherd teaches us how to transform every cross into an opportunity for virtue and good. At work, at home, at every place we might be, the Good Shepherd leads us to transform evil into good.
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.
Fr. Satish Joseph