4th Sunday of Easter
Homily for 07 May 2006
Fr. Bob Scanlan

A tourist in Scotland was out walking along a hillside when a sudden storm blew in. He went to a near-by shelter to avoid the wind and snow. Looking out of the shelter he noticed a few sheep coming out of the hollows standing on top of the hill facing into the wind and snow. A little while longer he met an old and weather-wizened shepherd and said to him, “Aren’t the sheep the most foolish of all creatures? Here a storm is coming and instead of staying in the shelter of the hollows they came out into the wind and snow!” The old shepherd said in return, “Sir, if you were a sheep you would have more sense. During a snow storm, down in the hollows, snow drifts come, and with them death.” The sheep knew their only safety was on the open hills, facing the storm.

Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles reminds us of the bravery and daring that comes with the confidence of knowing the risen Christ. Peter had been able to cure a crippled man and was free to acknowledge that it was in the name of Jesus that this man was cured. Peter and John, whose experience of the risen Jesus and whose openness to the gift of the Spirit empowered them to leave the hollows of the upper room and boldly to preach and heal in Jesus’ name. It was their new found freedom from the old oppression that was exhilarating to them. The rulers of the time did not know how to respond to them. How do we keep them quiet? One cannot contain what will not be contained! Peter and John refused to be silent in the service of their new truth.

At times do you feel you are caught in the perceived safety of the hollows only to find staying there may bring you spiritual death? Of course we know what happened to Peter. He was also crucified, upside down, for his preaching and following of Jesus. Are we willing to risk as Peter did? What form does modern “crucifixion” take in our life?

In the first letter of John we hear the statement that “We ARE children of God”. “What we shall be has not yet been revealed”. I feel the message here is to simply realize what we have. It is always tempting to look forward to what the future may hold for us while missing the beauty of the present moment. Drink in life and love; anticipate future events; but live in the present. Author Eckhart Tolle speaks to this in his book “The Power of Now”. Become aware of the presence of God all around you---NOW.

We have heard the story of the Good Shepherd many times from our youth. This story speaks to me today of FAITH. What is FAITH? Faith is stepping out into the unknown with nothing to guide you but trust in the person calling you forth. Because the relationship between sheep and shepherd is based on trust and faith the sheep move in the direction the shepherd calls them.

Today in our church we have been misled by many of our shepherds. Those shepherds we have been told to trust have led many astray. Those shepherds do not have the good of the sheep as their focus but their own power and at times corruption as the focal point of their misguided leadership. Today some of the shepherds have themselves lost their way and do not know where they are leading.

New shepherds are called forth to assume leadership. Only if the shepherd leads in the person of Christ will the sheep follow. There is nothing wrong in being a sheep as long as the shepherd you are following speaks and leads as Christ. It is when you have been led astray that you must seek new leadership.

How do you discern if the shepherd is leading in the person of Christ? Look at the examples in scripture; the examples of justice; the examples of equality for all men and women; the examples of compassion; the examples of healing; the beatitudes; the works of mercy and the list is endless.

In our world today, many depend on “map quest” to find their way. For the bikers here today, you may know the way to “Sturgis”. For those of you who are asking what and where is “Sturgis”---trust me you are not a “biker”. But once you get there, who or what is your guide?

What or who do you follow? Who is your guide? Who is your shepherd? My experience has been that at times “mapquest” is wrong. My experience has also been that following some of the leaders of our time has been wrong. However my experience has also been that following Jesus is never wrong! I must discern who is my shepherd. If the shepherd is not of Jesus; the shepherd is a wolf in lambs clothing.

Our faith community here proclaims proudly, “JESUS OUR SHEPHERD”. Do you believe this and trust this? Is Jesus really your Shepherd or do you follow another?