Call Us Home

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, April 21st, 2024:
Good Shepherd Sunday

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John
10.11-18 
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Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Beneath the surface of the earth, seeds lie imprisoned by the soil. They quietly lay dormant throughout the dark winter. Beneath the surface of my skin lies my soul. It also lies dormant, waiting to be led to the Light. The seeds and my soul have a purposeful longing to break free of their encapsulation. And the sun, the Son, the Good Shepherd, calls them forth. He calls them Home. To be Home is to live in the light of the Son.

Just as the one who returns home to the Church is like the sprout breaking ground to reach for the light; there is a knowingness of Home, of belonging, of purpose, of direction that lives in us. We are oftentimes unaware of its existence until we find ourselves in a space where Home is freely expressed. Once Home, under the Light of God, we are then nurtured, embraced, and led into the fullness of life, just as He proposed in the beginning. 

I have heard stories of people who have been away from faith for many years, or had no exposure to faith in their lives, and upon entering or reentering the Church, they had an experience frequently described as being “home.” This was my experience, too. Who, then, leads us there? No one can lead us Home other than the Good Shepherd Himself.

And how do we know it’s His voice that calls us? This is where the metaphor is insufficient. A human shepherd will use the same call for the entire flock of sheep, but the Good Shepherd calls according to the individual ears of His children. One may hear His voice ringing through the stained glass that captures and casts forth His light. Another may hear Him call through the ancient melodies that praise His name. Perhaps He calls some through the welcoming warmth of another’s heart. And still others may hear Him proclaimed from the altar. Diverse though His voice may be, He summons us all in one common direction. His call shepherds our souls out of the dangerous shadows of darkness into His healing, radiant light.

He shepherds the sprouted seeds toward the sun so they can grow, flower, and scatter more seed. He shepherds the longing soul so it may grow, blossom, and bear fruit for His Kingdom. He shepherds the lost sheep so they may not fall prey to the wolves, but live in the security of His protection and guidance. 

Let us pray: Dear Father, our Good Shepherd, guide our hearts this day. Cultivate in us an ear for Your voice so that we might rest in the grace of Your presence.




Lori MacDonald

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