Full Life with the Shepherd

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the promises of the Good Shepherd to lead us to the green pastures and still waters of full life.

Remember the Shepherd

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses the crowd, including the First Converts.

* [2:38] Repent and be baptized: repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one’s life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels. Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 10:44–48; 11:16). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

Psalm 23 praises the Divine Shepherd.

* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).

* [23:1] My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ez 34:11–16; Jn 10:11–18).

* [23:3] Right paths: connotes “right way” and “way of righteousness.”

* [23:5] You set a table before me: this expression occurs in an exodus context in Ps 78:19. In front of my enemies: my enemies see that I am God’s friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Ps 104:15; Mt 26:7; Lk 7:37, 46; Jn 12:2).

* [23:6] Goodness and mercy: the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel. (Psalms, PSALM 23, n.d.)

The reading from the First Letter of Peter shares the return to the Shepherd.

* [2:21] Suffered: some ancient manuscripts and versions read “died” (cf. 1 Pt 3:18).

* [2:22–25] After the quotation of Is 53:9b, the passage describes Jesus’ passion with phrases concerning the Suffering Servant from Is 53:4–12, perhaps as employed in an early Christian confession of faith; cf. 1 Pt 1:18–21 and 1 Pt 3:18–22.

* [2:25] The shepherd and guardian of your souls: the familiar shepherd and flock figures express the care, vigilance, and love of God for his people in the Old Testament (Ps 23; Is 40:11; Jer 23:4–5; Ez 34:11–16) and of Jesus for all humanity in the New Testament (Mt 18:10–14; Lk 15:4–7; Jn 10:1–16; Heb 13:20). (1 Peter, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

The Gospel of John proclaims Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

* [10:1–21] The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends Jn 9. The figure is allegorical: the hired hands are the Pharisees who excommunicated the cured blind man. It serves as a commentary on Jn 9. For the shepherd motif, used of Yahweh in the Old Testament, cf. Ex 34; Gn 48:15; 49:24; Mi 7:14; Ps 23:1–4; 80:1.

* [10:1] Sheepfold: a low stone wall open to the sky.

* [10:4] Recognize his voice: the Pharisees do not recognize Jesus, but the people of God, symbolized by the blind man, do.

* [10:6] Figure of speech: John uses a different word for illustrative speech than the “parable” of the synoptics, but the idea is similar.

* [10:7–10] In Jn 10:7–8, the figure is of a gate for the shepherd to come to the sheep; in Jn 10:9–10, the figure is of a gate for the sheep to come in and go out.

* [10:8] [Before me]: these words are omitted in many good early manuscripts and versions. (John, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)

Mardell Wilson comments that our reading reminds us that the only way to enter into the ultimate sheep gate is by confessing Jesus Christ as the risen Lord. The simple fact is that anytime we take responsibility for all or even some small fraction of our salvation, we will lose.

Jesus compares us to sheep. In fact, the Bible compares us to sheep in many places. Psalm 119:176 says, "I have astrayed like a lost sheep." The prophet Isaiah in chapter 53, verse six, said, " We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  If you anyone who raises sheep they will tell you that if you give sheep an opportunity to make trouble, they will take it.  We, like sheep, know that it is simply impossible for us to stay perfect.  But our Shepherd provides the gate and the path.  We Pray Good and gracious Lord, we thank you for your role as gate and shepherd.  We are blessed to be your lambs led on the path of everlasting life in You.  Through Your death we have eternal life, free from the grasp of robbers and thieves. Thank you for being the single Map App to get us to our desired destination. (Wilson, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Green pastures and still waters,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God, 'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth!'" (excerpt from Sermon 366,3,1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 23:1-6 comments that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows what we need to flourish as well, so he promises that we will “find pasture” in him (John 10:9). On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let’s take some time to follow Jesus into the “verdant pastures” promised in the responsorial psalm (Psalm 23:2).

The Good Shepherd came so that you “might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This life grows and deepens in prayer. It’s Jesus’ own life in you. So let him lead you each day to the rich pastures where he is waiting for you. There you will find refreshment, restoration, and peace.

“Jesus, you are my Good Shepherd who leads and guides me. There is nothing and no one else I want but you.” (Meditation on Psalm 23:1-6, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the passage from Acts calling the people to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. We hear that the Good Shepherd calls us, like Mary Magdalene, by name. Friar Jude notes that we should try to be open to shifts in the messages that we receive from the symbols in Scripture.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, honors how painful transformation can be and reminds us to be patient with ourselves and the process.

Spiritual transformation always includes a disconcerting reorientation. It can either help people to find new meaning or it can cause people to close down and slowly turn bitter. The difference is determined precisely by the quality of our inner life, our practices, and our spirituality. Change happens, but transformation is always a process of letting go, and living in the confusing, shadowy, transitional space for a while. Eventually, we are spit up on a new and unexpected shore. We can see why Jonah in the belly of the whale is such an important figure for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. 

In moments of insecurity and crisis, shoulds and oughts don’t really help. They just increase the shame, guilt, pressure, and likelihood of backsliding into unhealthy patterns. It’s the deep yeses that carry us through to the other side. It’s those deeper values we strongly support—such as equality and dignity for all—that allow us to wait it out. Or it’s someone in whom we absolutely believe and to whom we commit. In plain language, love wins out over guilt any day. (Rohr, 2023)

We journey, at times, in valleys that may be in the shadow of death with the faith that our Shepherd will lead us into life through the prompting of the Spirit.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?14 

John, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?1 

Meditation on Psalm 23:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/30/669034/ 

1 Peter, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/2?20 

Psalms, PSALM 23. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, April 30). New Beginnings — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/new-beginnings-2023-04-30/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Came That They May Have Life Abundantly. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr30 

Wilson, M. (2023, April 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/043023.html 

Spirit and Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the fullness of life that is rooted in trust in God and our experience of the Spirit on our journey.

Feast of Saint Catherine of Sienna

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes healing by Peter in Lydda and Joppa.

* [9:31–43] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Paul’s activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed.

* [9:36] Tabitha (Dorcas), respectively the Aramaic and Greek words for “gazelle,” exemplifies the right attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus in the Lucan Gospel (Lk 6:30; 11:41; 12:33; 18:22; 19:8). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving for recovery from Illness

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus, in the Bread of Life Discourse, proclaims the Words of Eternal Life.

* [6:60–71] These verses refer more to themes of Jn 6:35–50 than to those of Jn 6:51–58 and seem to be addressed to members of the Johannine community who found it difficult to accept the high christology reflected in the bread of life discourse.

* [6:62] This unfinished conditional sentence is obscure. Probably there is a reference to Jn 6:49–51. Jesus claims to be the bread that comes down from heaven (Jn 6:50); this claim provokes incredulity (Jn 6:60); and so Jesus is pictured as asking what his disciples will say when he goes up to heaven.

* [6:63] Spirit,flesh: probably not a reference to the eucharistic body of Jesus but to the supernatural and the natural, as in Jn 3:6. Spirit and life: all Jesus said about the bread of life is the revelation of the Spirit. (John, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)

George Butterfield comments that there are disciples who decide that they can no longer walk with Jesus. What Jesus says is “hard.”

Jesus asks the Twelve, and us, “Do you also want to leave?” Frankly, yes, Jesus, sometimes I do. But what exactly is the alternative to following Jesus? Surely there are several. Yet, what if we believe that Jesus is the Master? What if we conclude that Jesus has the “words of eternal life”? What if we “come to believe and are convinced that [Jesus is] the Holy One of God?” In that case, we keep walking. We keep growing. We keep striving. And we believe that, even in death, we will hear the words Aeneas and Tabitha heard: “rise up.” Walk with me again. (Butterfield, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Eat Life - Drink Life,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"'Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you shall not have life in you,' says the Lord. Eat life - drink life. You will then have life, and life is complete. Then the Body and Blood of Christ will be life for each person under this condition: what is eaten visibly in the Sacrament be spiritually eaten and spiritually drunk in truth itself." (excerpt from Sermon 102,2) (of Hippo & Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:60-69 comments that sometimes these wonderful words go in one ear and out the other without having much of an impact on our lives. They become so familiar that we lose sight of the life they offer us. Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, we don’t always get what Jesus is saying, even though his words are “Spirit and life” (John 6:63). We might even forget who is speaking to us and why.

In the same way, the words we have from Jesus in Scripture and through the Church aren’t just ancient history. They are a personal message that God addresses to each one of us this very day. They are meant to deepen our friendship every time we read them. Even if we don’t fully understand them, as the Twelve certainly didn’t (John 6:60), we can linger over his words and let them sink into our hearts. Because every word is part of a love letter that the Holy Spirit longs to write on our hearts each and every day.

“Jesus, open my ears to the words you are speaking to me today!” (Meditation on John 6:60-69, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler describes the awe and wonder of God that fills Peter and the witnesses to his healing action. The challenge to eat my Body and drink my Blood overwhelms some of the disciples even as Peter makes a powerful profession of faith in Jesus' words of eternal life. Friar Jude is reminded that the author of John seems never to avoid an opportunity to criticize Peter.

Franciscan Media comments that Catherine of Sienna learned to view her surrender to her Lord as a goal to be reached through time.

Though she lived her life in a faith experience and spirituality far different from that of our own time, Catherine of Sienna stands as a companion with us on the Christian journey in her undivided effort to invite the Lord to take flesh in her own life. Events which might make us wince or chuckle or even yawn fill her biographies: a mystical experience at six, childhood betrothal to Christ, stories of harsh asceticism, her frequent ecstatic visions. Still, Catherine lived in an age which did not know the rapid change of 21st-century mobile America. The value of her life for us today lies in her recognition of holiness as a goal to be sought over the course of a lifetime. (Saint Catherine of Sienna, n.d.)

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces writer and spiritual director Caroline Oakes who perceives contemplative practice at the heart of Jesus’ rhythm of ministry. His example teaches us to detach from our judgments and expectations so that we can return to Divine presence.

When we notice Jesus’ times of spiritual renewal interspersed as they are throughout the arc of his ministry—from his teaching, healing, and feeding of the four and five thousand followers, to his last words at the Last Supper, in Gethsemane, and on the cross—we begin to notice the definitive pattern in Jesus’ practice as a kind of flowing back-and-forth rhythm.  

There is a continual pausing to let go (what scholars call kenosis, or emptying) of egoic attachments, fear, judgment, or expectations and then a returning to the Divine Presence again and again.  

Let go.  

Return.  

Let go.  

Return.  

And the Divine is the one-pointed focus to which Jesus returns ceaselessly in this prayer rhythm of pause and release and return. This is Jesus’ formula for waking up—his formula for himself and for his followers.… It is Jesus’ practice for deepening the soul’s awareness of and attunement with our innermost essence, the Divine within. (Rohr, 2023)

We can pause and wait on the Spirit when we are challenged, like the Apostles, to incorporate Jesus teaching into our interactions with people in daily life.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9?31 

Butterfield, G. (2023, April 29). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042923.html 

John, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?60 

Meditation on John 6:60-69. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/29/668586/ 

of Hippo, A., & Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr29 

Psalms, PSALM 116. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12 

Rohr, R. (2023, April 29). Detachment: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/detachment-weekly-summary-2023-04-29/ 

Saint Catherine of Siena. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-catherine-of-siena/