Fourth Sunday of Easter/B
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (John 10: 11-18) Jesus calls himself the “good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep”.
The relation between Jesus and his sheep is one of ” knowledge” (the Greek verb used is γινώσκω [ginóskó]) which indicates an intimate relationship, of trust, of mutual surrender. In essence, a type of “personal” relation that, in the rapport with the Lord, stands as a slow path capable of leading us to a healthy knowledge of ourselves and the search for a relational quality with those around us.
Concretely, our relation with the Lord, in an imperceptible way, could be confined in styles received from an education, from a culture where we grew up.
We can, in fact, have a ‘religious practice’, but not necessarily and automatically a relationship with the Lord.
To be in a ” relation”, in an intimate rapport means to plan one’s own life, to make one’s own choices taking into account in a substantial way the “other”, and not simply asking for his “blessing” on things already decided.
But, it could also happen that, again imperceptibly, we somehow keep our relation with the Lord “at a distance” because we perceive that such a relation obliges us to tell the truth, to face unresolved questions, to stop running away.
Whatever our relationship with the Lord today, He never stops knocking at our door, taking care of us, seeking us out when we get lost, leading us gently – but firmly – to “life in abundance”.
The Communion antiphon of today’s celebration is taken from Chapter X of John’s Gospel (John 10:14) with the following text:
“Ego sum pastor bonus, alleluia,
et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt meae, alleluia, alleluia.”
(I am the good shepherd, alleluia;
I know my sheep and my own know me, alleluia, alleluia).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The interpretation is by the Choir of the Abbey of St Peter of Solesmes.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
