C: 4th Sun of Easter (12 May 2019) - The Shepherd and the Lamb (Jn 10:27-30)

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is appropriately called the Good Shepherd Sunday because our gospel annually presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd as provided for in John 10. Here, Jesus introduces himself as somebody who knows his sheep well (vv. 14, 27), is ready to lay down his life for them (vv. 15, 18), and gives them eternal life (v. 28). In turn, the sheep know him well too (v. 14), listening (vv. 16, 27) and following him (v. 27) as their one shepherd (v. 16).

Notwithstanding, what we find confusing is although Jesus already introduced himself clearly as the shepherd in John 10, in the Book of Revelation (our Second Reading) he is portrayed as the Lamb around whom all the nations, elders of the tribes of Israel and the angels from the four corners of the earth and from the sun gather together (Rev. 7:1-9). They all exult this Lamb saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (v. 10).

We, then, ask: Is Jesus the Shepherd or the Lamb?

The more appropriate answer is BOTH. This answer may be unrealistic to our earthly context: one cannot be a shepherd and a lamb at the same time. But in the allegorical sense, it is possible, since at the same time, one can be a good leader and a good follower, a good parent to children and a good son/daughter to his/her own parents, or a good lecturer and a good audience. The reality is: one only excels in leadership roles when one is upright in obeying. Simply put, it is one’s experience in the grassroot level that defines best his/her policies and vision-mission in positions of authority.

We remember vividly here the homily of Pope Francis in his first months as the elected pontiff. On March 28, 2013, during the chrism mass on Holy Thursday at the St. Peter’s Basilica, he told the congregation of priests concelebrating with him—in which assembly I was truly blessed to be a part—that a true shepherd should be “living with the smell of the sheep”. He directed every spiritual shepherd of God’s flock to “put his own skin and own heart on the line” and not being mere “collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep’”. What the Vicar of Christ was warning priests against is being comfortable with the convenient perks of leadership and power, without taking any efforts to be among the sheep and being/becoming with/like them in their sufferings and pains.

It is election time once again in the Philippines. Tomorrow, May 13, we will cast our votes, putting into office people whom we believe will lead the Philippine nation to progress and betterment. However, we should bear in mind that our basis for choosing is not only on what they can purportedly do, but more importantly, on what their behaviors and attitudes truly exhibit. They should be first and foremost people who are down-to-earth, who listen and know the deepest longings and pleas of the Filipino poor, and who are known of having a track-record of cleanliness and good governance. Our present administration though begins to manifest traces of corruption, amplified by the latest accusations (the so-called Bikoy Videos) of the presidential family and close-friends’ association to drug-trade. If these allegations were true, then we should be now extra cautious of putting into power pretentious shepherds who do not truly care for the sheep (Jn 10:12-13) but only advance their own interests and welfare. Rather, we should be wise and conscientious in selecting candidates who will fight for the sheep and will never take advantage of their weaknesses.

Indeed, a true leader is both a shepherd and a lamb at the same time. It is high time that we become very vigilant and meticulous in determining their true political smell.

- Rex Fortes, CM