4B EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 10:11-18, APRIL 21, 2024
1. STORY
Two shepherds, John and James, were tending their sheep. John returned with all his sheep while James
came back having lost his sheep. The
master asked them why one returned with all his sheep and the other lost his
sheep. James replied that he was playing
checkers with a friend and thought the sheep was nearby. He suddenly looked around and found they were
all gone. The master said John was a
good shepherd but James was not.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN 10:11-18
A. JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Jesus is the good shepherd as he knows his sheep and they know him. He is the good shepherd because he will lay down his life for his sheep.
B. JESUS LOOKS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELONG TO HIS FOLD. Jesus is also
concerned “with other sheep that do not belong to this fold.” His goal is that there be one flock and one
shepherd.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. JESUS CARES FOR US.
Jesus cares for us in many ways.
i) He provides us with his Church, the family of God, to instruct and
guide us especially during Mass;
ii) He provides us with the Eucharist, the spiritual food to keep us
spiritually strong;
iii) He provides us with the sacrament of confession to forgive our
sins;
iv) He provides us with joy, peace, happiness; and at the end of our journey, he provides us with eternal life.
B. WE HELP JESUS.
Jesus is concerned with those who do not belong to his flock, and we
help Jesus by also being concerned. We
do this
i) by our example of living a good life;
ii) by telling others about the blessings Jesus can bring to them;
iii) by encouraging those baptized who have left Christ to return to
him.
4. CONCLUSION
John and James were shepherds. John
was a good shepherd but James was not. Jesus is the good shepherd who knows his sheep
and is willing to die for them. Jesus
cares for us in many ways. He has
established the Church, Mass, the Eucharist, and confession as ways to help us.
We, in turn, help Jesus by contacting
and encouraging and
sharing the good news with non-Catholics. We thank Jesus for his love and care for us as
our good shepherd. We ask Jesus to help
us follow his good example by being good shepherds to others.
