4th Easter - Fr. Leo
John’s gospel (10:11-18) clarifies what a good Shepherd is, by contrasting him/her with a hired hand. When the wolf comes the hired hand runs for his life and leaves the sheep to die. The Good Shepherd by contrast is willing, and does, lay down his/her own life for mere sheep. Why the difference in response between the hired hand and the Good Shepherd?
It is obvious to say that the shepherd has a vested interest in his/her sheep. But to understand this analogy with Christ, we can not help but recognize that the vested interest isn’t financial. It is a vested interest of love for God’s sons and daughters. Christ gave his life for us out of love, and his love is total and never ending.
God finds meaning in God’s love for us, and we find our meaning in sharing in that love. Meaning in this case may also embrace suffering. What parent would not give their life for their child if they could? And Why? Because of love, not reason, but a drawing of the heart.
Our faith is believing that the ultimate meaning of life is to love and be loved! This makes self-sacrifice a gift to others and to self, because we live and die with meaning. This isn’t logical, but it can’t be argued that love will always trump our human reason. It is love that matters. It alone brings light to dispel darkness and cast out all evil.
Easter is our participation in his paradox. Living with faith in the power of the resurrection, the trump of love, brings us into the fullness of life. A life of meaning and purpose. It is the Spirit that achieves this and is why Easter culminates in Pentecost, the out pouring of God’s love and grace upon the hearts of all who hear and respond to the inner urges of love.