Sunday Reflections - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR A (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY)

 LIGHT FOR THE LIVING

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR A (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY)

(Acts 2:14, 36–41; 1 Peter 2:20–25; John 10:1–10)

My beloved in Christ,

In a quiet fishing community in Opobo, Rivers State, there once lived an old fisherman called Tamuno. Everybody in the village knew him. Not because he was the richest man in Opobo, but because he was the only fisherman who could spend the whole day in the river, return with baskets of fish, and still give the biggest fish to widows before entering his own house.

His wife used to complain affectionately,
“Tamuno, one day you will give away even the canoe!”

Tamuno would laugh and reply,
“If the river feeds me, why should I starve those the river also knows by name?”

Now, not far from Tamuno’s hut lived another fisherman called Boma. Boma was clever—too clever. He sold bad fish at the price of fresh fish, borrowed nets and never returned them, and could count everybody’s fish except his own lies. Whenever people saw him coming, they hid their baskets.

One day, a child asked an elder,
“Why does everybody run from Boma but run to Tamuno?”

The elder smiled and said,
“One man fishes for the people. The other fishes the people.”

The whole village laughed, but the lesson entered.

 

The Shepherd Who Serves, Not Exploits

That village wisdom opens today’s Gospel beautifully.

Jesus Christ says:

“I am the gate for the sheep.”
(John 10:7)

And again:

“Whoever enters through me will be saved.”
(John 10:9)

Then He warns:

“A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy.”
(John 10:10)

This is the difference between the true shepherd and the false one.

The true shepherd serves.
The false shepherd exploits.

The true shepherd protects the sheep.
The false shepherd feeds on the sheep.

The true shepherd lays down his life.
The false shepherd lays hands on what is not his.

That is why Christ is not merely called a shepherd. He is called the Good Shepherd.

 

The Voice That Saves

The sheep of Christ are not led by force but by voice.

The sheep know the shepherd because they recognize the sound of truth, the sound of mercy, the sound of salvation.

That is why when Peter spoke after Pentecost, the people were cut to the heart and asked:

“Brethren, what shall we do?”
(Acts 2:37)

Peter answered:

“Repent and be baptized.”
(Acts 2:38)

That is the voice of the shepherd—not manipulation, not exploitation, not fear—but truth that leads to salvation.

 

The Shepherd Does Not Feed on the Sheep

A true shepherd does not become fat because the sheep are hungry.

Saint Peter tells us of Christ:

“When he was insulted, he returned no insult… He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross.”
(1 Peter 2:23–24)

Christ did not exploit the people. He fed them. He healed them. He taught them. He died for them.

He did not come to take life from the sheep.
He came to give life to the sheep.

That is why He says:

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)

This is the mark of the Good Shepherd: he gives, he protects, he suffers, he saves.

 

From Christ to Peter, From Peter to the Church

Before His Ascension, Christ handed this shepherding mission to Peter:

“Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep.”
(John 21:15–17)

This was not mere sentiment. It was a divine mandate.

The care of souls, the feeding of the flock, the protection of the sheep, the proclamation of salvation—these were entrusted to the apostles.

And through apostolic succession, this shepherding office continues in the Church, especially in her bishops, the successors of the apostles, united with the Holy Father, the successor of Peter.

This is why the Church teaches, governs, sanctifies, and nourishes.

A bishop is not called to own the sheep.
He is called to guard them.

A priest is not sent to consume the flock.
He is sent to feed it.

The true shepherd in the Church must never become like Boma in Opobo—one who fishes the people instead of fishing for them.

 

The Witness of Holy Shepherds

This is why the saints shine so brightly.

Francis of Assisi was born into wealth, yet he chose poverty so that the poor might know dignity.

He did not use people to build comfort.
He used what he had to restore souls.

He became poor enough to serve, humble enough to listen, and holy enough to lead.

That is the shepherd’s path.

 

Light for the Living Today

Back in Opobo, the people trusted Tamuno because he loved them more than their fish.

That is how the sheep know the shepherd—by sacrifice, by care, by truth, by love.

Today there are many voices in the world:

• voices that flatter,
• voices that deceive,
• voices that steal peace,
• voices that feed on fear.

But only one voice saves.

 

Sunday Reflection

My beloved,
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who guides, protects, and provides for the sheep, while the sheep listen only to His voice.

He sacrificed Himself for the sheep.

Today, there are many voices in the world that came to kill, destroy, and steal.

Can you identify the voice of God and listen to it as Peter’s audience did when they asked, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said, “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:37–38).

Let us listen to the only voice that redeemed us and offered us salvation.

May God bless you as you listen to His voice.

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday.

Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ibearugbulem, C.S.Sp