There is a story of a tourist in the Middle East who observed with interest how a shepherd drove all his sheep into a sheepfold. The fold was an enclosed wall with only one opening. The tourist noticed that there was no door or gate on the opening. He remarked to the shepherd, “Aren’t you afraid of predators getting in there?” “No,” replied the shepherd, “because I am the door. When the sheep are in for the night, I lie down across the doorway. No sheep can get out except over my body and no wolf or thief can get in except over me.”

​Today is the Fourth Sunday of the Easter Season, well-known as: “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In the Gospel of John today Jesus describes the differences between good shepherds and bad ones. He talks about the true responsibility and concern by a good shepherd: how one will lay down his life for his charges. He uses the image of the good shepherd to describe God’s love and care for us; and speaks of His willingness to lay down His life for us.

The image of the Good Shepherd is one of protection. There is security and trust for all in that Jesus (God) knows us: He knows when we wander, He knows when we do not follow where He leads—and yet He will seek us always, no matter what! St. John tells us in his First Letter: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God.” God loves us in his Son, Jesus, as His children, as His flock. The Lord Is My Shepherd! A Good Shepherd!

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

We have all probably heard (maybe on television cop shows) that eyewitnesses are unreliable; that what people see with their own eyes is often skewed by some personal perspective or even trauma. Today the Gospel story begins with the two men who recount their journey to Emmaus. How in meeting with Jesus on the road, they then later know Him - see Him - in the breaking of the bread.

The two travelers are in the upper room recounting to the others what occurred, and Jesus appears again. He eats (proving he is not a ghost), opens their minds to the scriptures, and reminds them that they “are witnesses of these things.” We are reminded again today, that like the Disciples, we are witnesses of Christ alive in us, too.  So, in today’s cynical world— full of some media lies, half-truths, and “alternative facts,” how do we convincingly share the truth of Jesus? How do we witness reliably?

We also, like those Disciples, need our eyes opened, our minds opened, in order to witness the truth of Christ well. In order to be believed, we must be believable and authentic. When we experience real conversion events, they take place in our hearts, and we are changed by them—and the change should be obvious to all.

Jesus tells us today in the Gospel of Luke: “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in His name…” We hear the apostle Peter in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles tell us to “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” The readings today have a “Lenten” feel, an echo of our Lenten journey that led up to the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. We know that our faith is a process of conversion and change: faith is a journey of the spirit, the heart and the mind.

The Second Reading from the First Letter of John says it all very simply: “The way that we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.” So simple, and yet, so challenging...John says it clearly — no lying, no sinning! Otherwise, we do not know Him, and we will not witness Him to the world.

In keeping His Word, in speaking the truth, in acting in the love and the mercy of God we will be believable, truthful—reliable - witnesses of Christ.

Keep Singing!

Elizabeth Dyc