Follow the good shepherd

Here is the reflection I prepared for this Sunday's gathering of the faithful, inspired by the image of Jesus, the good shepherd who leads us.

Listen for his call

On Wednesday of this past week, students from the intermediate grades of our elementary schools began the preparation process for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.  There were more than seventy students present for this first meeting, along with their parents who had also been invited.  In most cases, it was these parents who brought their children to the waters of baptism.  Throughout their lives to this point, parents have played a key role in teaching their children about faith and in providing an example of faith for them.  Parents were often the ones who introduced their children to the person of Jesus and began to tell them about the story of his life.  Through the words and example set by their parents, many of these children have begun to experience for themselves what it’s like to follow in his footsteps.  Now, parents and other catechists are present with these young people as they begin the next phase of their faith journey.  In the coming weeks, they will learn more about Jesus: about his constant and abiding love for us, about the special gift of the Holy Spirit which he sent to us, and through which he shares with us the gifts that allow us to be true and authentic witnesses of his joy and his love in the world.

None of us is able to bear witness to Christ on our own.  We all need the strength and support of the community of believers, and we need to always remember that Jesus walks by our side.  He is the good shepherd spoken of in the gospel today.  Over the past couple of weeks, we have been reminded time and time again of the great love that Jesus has for each of his disciples, including each one of us.  He loves us so much that he is even willing to lay down his life for us (cf Jn 10:11). 

At some of the Masses this weekend, we are celebrating the Baptisms of children.  Along with their parents and families, we are giving thanks with great joy for the birth of these little ones and bringing them to the font at which their lives of faith will begin.  When a parent gazes into the eyes of his or her newborn child, he or she is overcome with a sense of love.  Have you ever considered, just for a moment that God gazes into our eyes too, with the same love for us that parents have for their children?  God loves us so much that he is willing to lay down his life for us?  No one in the world will ever love us more than our parents will, except for God.  He loves us, he protects us, he knows us even better than we know ourselves.

Today, the Church all over the world celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Ever since the time of the first disciples, God has continued to call others in our world to share the good news with those we meet; to tell them about the love Jesus has for all those who are called to the font.  Since he no longer has human hands, he uses our hands to reach out to those who are in need; since he no longer has human eyes, he uses our eyes to look lovingly on those who are searching for him; since he no longer has human ears, he uses our ears to listen compassionately to those who need to know that they are not alone; and since he no longer has a human voice, he uses our voices to speak to the hearts of all those who need to hear that we are God’s beloved children (1 Jn 3:2).

Having heard this good news, he calls us to share this good news with others.   Through acts of love and mercy we follow in the footsteps of Jesus himself.  It takes courage to be a disciple, to speak to people about the resurrection of Jesus (cf Acts 4:7), to not be afraid even to be arrested and persecuted for speaking the truth that we believe.

Children who are brought to this font to be baptized need the adults in their lives to be faithful witnesses of faith.  Young adults who will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in the coming weeks are seeking examples of commitment to faith, truth and love.  Like the elders and scribes mentioned in today’s second reading, they have lots of questions to ask.  For their sakes, let us not be afraid to be witnesses to Christ, courageously and joyfully proclaiming to them that Jesus, the stone rejected by the elders, has become the cornerstone of our faith (cf Acts 4:12).  This is our vocation; this is the vocation of every disciple who seeks to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.