Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday. Do you know people who have the qualities of a “good shepherd?”
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection May 11 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: Sister Concepcion Medina shared this Good Shepherd image taken at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Newton, Wisconsin.
John 10:27-30
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
Background:
The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. John 10:1-21 describes Jesus as a good shepherd. The Gospel text for this Sunday is preceded by that description of Jesus and a short description of Jesus in Solomon’s Portico where some Jews confronted him asking that he state plainly if he is the messiah. (John 10:22-24)
This short text presents an image of Jesus’ relationship to His Father and his relationship with His followers. The text that the church selects for reflection this Sunday only hints at the turmoil that is apparent in the rest of the chapter. As Jesus has taught over time about his relationship to God, he has used a variety of images. At other points in John’s Gospel, he has spoken of himself as: bread for the world (Jn 6:35), the light of the world (Jn 9:5), and the good shepherd (Jn 10:11). The Jews have asked Jesus repeatedly to clarify who he is and his relationship to God.
Jesus has also performed some miracles. He has: changed a large amount of water into wine (Jn 2:1-12), fed a multitude with five loaves (Jn 6:1-15), and cured a number of people including a man who was blind from birth (Jn 9:1-41).
He has also done some things that would be unthinkable for the people of his day. These include: driving out merchants from the temple (2:13-17); engaging a Samaritan woman in conversation (4:4-42); and refusing to condemn a woman who was caught in the act of adultery (8:1-11).
In the early part of his Gospel, John portrays Jesus’ ministry as being the center of controversy. As early as the end of the second chapter, John states that Jesus needed no one to give him testimony about human nature. He was well aware of what was in each person’s heart (Jn 2:25). In chapter 5, John states that there were Jews who wanted to kill Jesus (Jn 5:18). The things that Jesus had said and done were troubling for the Jewish leaders.
Jesus uses the image of sheep and shepherd to describe his relationship with his true followers. Sheep were held in high esteem in this culture because they did not cry out in pain but quietly accepted their fate. When a male child reached puberty, he left the care of his mother and the community of the women, and he entered the male-based society under the care of his father. His father and the other men of the community were responsible to teach him the qualities necessary to be an adult male in their society. The young boys/men were expected to faithfully and without complaint carry out the tasks given him. Physical pain and punishment were essential elements to develop the toughness needed for daily life. The developing boys were to be like sheep, who, when they were sheared each spring and eventually slaughtered, seemed to submit to their fate without bleating. Because of this quality, sheep became symbolic of the ideal way to live.
The shepherd at the time of Jesus was a mixed image. In the past, the Jews had used the image of the shepherd to describe their relationship to God and the ideal ruler. Psalm 23, which is used at many contemporary funerals, begins, “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.” Psalm 80 begins, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who led Joseph like a flock.” The prophet Isaiah describes the messiah as one who “… will feed his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in his arms, and will carry them in his bosom; and gently lead those that are with young.” (Is 40:11) By the time of Jesus, shepherds had lost their status. Many allowed their sheep to graze on land belonging to other shepherds, and they would entice sheep not of their flock to follow them by imitating the voice or call of another shepherd. Also, they were not able to keep ritualistically pure, and they were not at home to protect the women and children, a major responsibility of men.
Jesus uses these familiar symbols, meaningful to the people of his day, to describe himself as the Good Shepherd, one who lives faithfully the qualities a shepherd who gives of himself tirelessly to care for the sheep entrusted to his care. The shepherd is the ideal image for Jesus, and to describe his relationship to God and his relationship to his disciples.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you know people who seem to have a special bond with animals? How do you personally feel about those people and their relationship with animals?
- How do those people seem to feel about how others look on their relationships with animals?
- Do you know people who have the qualities of a “good shepherd?”
- Do you have friends whose voice you would recognize even if you did not see them?
- Are there also people who know the sound of your voice?
- Jesus says in this Gospel that he has given eternal life to those who follow him. How do you respond to this statement in today’s Gospel?
- Can you take some time now to talk with God about whatever struck you in this Gospel?
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