May 11, 2014
by Fr. Ron Calhoun
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
MAY 10/11 2014
Have you noticed how loosely people use the term friend these days? Mere acquaintances are often considered close friend. And of course, social media uses “befriending” to simply ass someone to your Facebook page. Perhaps a new definition of the word is evolving instead of a special relationship with someone rather close.
In the Bible however, words were pretty clearly defines and although the English translation doesn’t always do them justice, they have specific meanings. In today’s gospel we have a pretty clear definition of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. Jesus says that the sheep know the shepherd and the sheep know Him. They recognize His voice and the will only follow Him. I know my sheep and they know me.
That word know is much more than simply intellectual knowledge. Knowing in the Bible implies a certain amount of intimacy in the relationship that’s being referred to. No one knows and understands the sheep like the shepherd does; and contrary to popular understanding, the sheep are not dumb but they actually will only follow the one they know and trust. And they know that the shepherd leads them to green pastures where they will be nourished and will find life.
This wonderful image that appears so often in the scriptures is an image that applies to the relationship God has with us and we have with God. God knows us even more intimately than the shepherd and sheep. God only leads us to green pastures. “I have come that they may have life and live it more abundantly”. God only wants good things for us.
The love of the Shepherd on this Mother’s Day weekend is reflective of the love of a devoted mother, who watches over her children and provides good things, protecting and defending those children from anything that can harm them.
And so today, as we celebrate both Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother’s Day, we celebrate the gift of love that each bring us and know that both are more than mere friends in our lives, but those who nurture us and bring us to life.