When we read our history, we learn about our past. And when we learn about our past, we realize that there have been many good and righteous men and women who have influenced our world in so many positive ways. The world is a better place because of their contributions. These people inspire us. But our history also teaches us about the effects that bad people have had on the world. We know that there have been many bad leaders - bad presidents, bad governors, bad heads of corporations, even bad popes! – These people led others away from what is good and true. They misused their trust, their authority, and their power. And most of the time, they led themselves and many of those around them, to bad ends. There seems to be more of these false leaders now than ever before. Today, many feel like we can’t look up to anybody. Our government leaders let us down, our bosses say one thing and do another, our sports heroes fall, our entertainment idols do unspeakable things, and again, even some religious leaders prove to be not who we thought they were. So what do we do today? Do we not look up to anybody? Do we just not let anybody lead us and try to find our way on our own?

Today we are introduced to the Good Shepherd. And in hearing this Gospel, we are reminded that for all of us today, especially today, we are given Jesus as our shepherd. This is what our Father, our Creator, wanted for us. As human beings, we will fail one another time and time again. And God our Father didn’t want us to be alone, to be all by ourselves. We need an example. We need a role model. We need a shepherd. The shepherd image does not transfer real well to our culture and social situation. Most of us have never met a shepherd, good or bad. We know precious little about sheep and sheep-herding. But all of us can relate to the need to have someone lead us safely home to our Father. Deep down, we know we can’t do it on our own. We need help. We need guidance. And this is exactly where the Good Shepherd comes in. Jesus wants to be that guide in each and every one of our lives. And Jesus, we CAN trust. This Shepherd is not going to sell us out. This Shepherd is not going to lie to us. This Shepherd is not going to say one thing and then do another. Jesus is unlike any other leader that this world has ever known, religious or otherwise. This is the One we must follow.

Not only can we not be afraid to do this, but we must have complete confidence that this Good Shepherd, Jesus, is leading us home to Heaven. And that confidence means that we need to let His way, the way of the Good Shepherd, change us, and mold us, and lead us to what He needs us to become. To have a Good Shepherd means that we need to be good sheep. We need to follow. We need to let Him lead us. We need to be obedient. Why is it so hard for us to be obedient today? For so many, even the word “obedience” has negative connotations. Maybe it’s because we’ve had so many bad leaders. But if this Jesus really is different, if we really have Faith and Trust that this Good Shepherd really is the Risen Lord that we say that He is, then we can’t have any fear or trepidation about doing what He asks us to do. Obedience to God in Catholic Christianity is not about power and submission. It is about love and trust and Faith. We have no reason at all to be afraid of being obedient to this Good Shepherd. He’s not like everybody else.

The Pharisees couldn’t understand this. They couldn’t see the difference between what Jesus was offering and what they were offering. Everything was the same to them. We must be very careful today that we don’t lump everything together also. Jesus is different. His Way is different too. Isn’t the real reason that there has been such a great outpouring these past two weeks over the Pope’s death, that this Pope didn’t lead like a Pope. He didn’t lead like a president. He didn’t lead like a movie star or a sport’s hero. This Pope led like Jesus did. He too was a good shepherd. We can learn a lot from both Jesus and John Paul II. If we too would dare to lead anybody in any situation, it is best to do it with love, and with faith, and in service.

We cannot be afraid. The Good Shepherd is taking care of us. Let us trust Him enough to be obedient.

He is leading us all to where we most want to be.

May God bless us on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… AMEN !!!

St. Maria Goretti… Pray for us !!!