1. What a good shepherd is

Today, the 4th Lord’s day after Easter, we read the Gospel according to John chapter 10, which includes the parable of sheep and pastor. The story shows the relationship between Jesus and we, his followers. The former is represented by pastor and the latter by sheep. Please focus on the expression ” lay down ohe’s life” which is repeated several times in the passage. In the era of Jesus, pastors in Palestine moved around in fields and mountains to graze sheep. During that they were constantly exposed to dangers, more exactly attacks of wolves or robbers. Therefore pastors must remain vigilant and be ready to fight against such enemies to protect powerless sheep. Jesus alludes to his determination towards the upcoming death for saving us by talking about two types of shepherd.

Jesus says ;- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(John 10:11) And John wrote ;- Jesus used this figure of speech, but they (the crown including Pharisees) did not understand what he was telling them.(John 10:6)

That parable is situated after the healing story of a blind man, which commences in chapter 9. Pharisees who witness it accused Jesus because it was on Sabbath day. During the day Jewish people were under obligation to abstain from any useful work. So, instead of share the joy of the healed man, Pharisees took advantage of the fact to attack Jesus. By hearing the accusation Jesus understood Pharisees cared only about only their own status and privilege, never about ordinary people’s life. Therefore he commenced to tell the parable as a criticism of them for such an attitude.

John presents here 2 types of shepherds ;- The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.¡Ê10:12-13¡Ë

In that time many priests served in the Temple but almost non of them took care of people’s living conditions, in most cases very poor. Priests were generally highly classed in the society and indifferent to lower groups. Their concerns are to display their righteousness by segregating sinful persons in accord with commandments .

“Good shepherd” are also key words of the parable ;- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.John 10:15)

It is said shepherds in Palestine give mane to each one of sheep they hold and sheep recognize the voice of their master. He might go as far as he can to find his stray sheep. He cherishes the sheep as if they are his own children. Even more, “he lays down his life for the sheep” to protect the sheep in case of attacks by enemies. Jesus did exactly the same on the Cross to save our life as his protected sheep.

2. Attitude of Hired hands

The following verses too implies we are compelled to be disposed to lay down our life for others;- I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.(John 12:24-25)

Nonetheless simple humans can do so because of our weakness. When John was writing the Gospel his church was under oppression in traditional Jewish society which considered them as to be heretics. If the faith in Jesus came out they should be thrown out of communities, established on the worship in synagog. As a result, they became deprived of legal rights and social protections as this verse tells us. ;- His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.(John 9:22)

Under such harsh circumstances many of believers, even some church leaders, abandoned the faith and left the church. The purpose of John’s writing this passage should be to convince remaining followers that, despite the situation, Jesus stayed with them and always willing to lay down his life for the flock.

Then John encourage them ;- The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."(John 10:17-18)

Its message is that even if they dies because of oppressions the death must be meaningful. Because they will be resurrected by God as Jesus was. John appeals to them this way for persistence and courage.

Like shepherds in Jesus time we live in the world filled with human dangers. Many persons, resembling to wolves and robbers, seek opportunities to exploit the weak. Their stance is to take material profits from relationship with others as long as they can do. And once it becomes unprofitable they abandon exploited people. But Jesus chose a life completely opposite to that, the life of serving.

The scene where disciples were discussing about who should be rulers tells us what Jesus taught ;- Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.(Mark 10:42-44)

To serve is to make efforts for others happiness and joy, even regardless of those of oneself. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry numerous people sympathized with Jesus’ lifestyle and tried to follow him. But it is too difficult for ordinary humans to live like Jesus. Even the apostle Peter denied Jesus by facing the menace of being arrested with him. Same as leaders of John’s church were. So how can we, weak believers in today’s world, understand and practice the lesson of today’s parable ?

3. To be authentic shepherds

Today’s invocation verses are John 20:22-23 ;- And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus gave those words to the disciples after the Resurrection. Despite disciples’ cowardly behavior Jesus didn’t reproach them for their nature. Instead, he entrusted his flock to them. (ref. John 21:17) Disciples were forgiven then and founded the church for preaching in accordance with Jesus’ instruction.

A minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation is called “pastor”, the name which came from a latin word “pastor = shepherd”. The etymology allude to the task given to the Twelve at first. Therefore we think very often it is only pastors who should preach as successors of the Disciples. As a result, ordinary church members might become a sort of onlookers who don’t make efforts to spread Jesus’ teaching. They criticize or estimate easily pastors’ activities as if they are not concerned with ministries. But I think it is not what Jesus really want.

Now I invite you to reflect on to whom Jesus entrusted the flock. John wrote “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."(John 20:21) and I think Jesus made all of his followers, not only clergies, responsible of the flock. All of christians should take role of shepherd. Those who seek forgiveness and salvation must pray God for others sake too. The church is the very place destined for the collective salvation.

Jesus said ;- I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.(John 10:16)

In the context of the Gospel “Other sheep that are not of this sheep pen” indicates non-Jewish people. But we should apply the expression also into today’s our life. It might mean, in much more general context, those who don’t know yet Jesus love. All of us are given the task to spread that love. And to preach is to show the life style which “lays down own life for the sheep”

I present you an example from a life a catholic sister Haruna Torikai, which was novelized by Ayako Sono. Haruna was given a mission in a town in Rwanda. Rwanda is a country situated in east-central Africa. Haruna, in living in a convent there, worked for hospitals and schools of inhabitants. Condition of daily life was very harsh partly because of perpetual civil wars between Tusti, the majority tribe, and Hutu, the minority. During the mission a genocide against Hustu by Hutu broke out. In that incident Haruna was raped and gat pregnant. Though fortunately she could come back to Japan her religious superior received her coldly. The order could do nothing with pregnant sister. She suffered from their reactions and despaired about her future. A life of defrocked Catholic sister who becomes single mother must be extremely difficult in Japan. I was natural that she thought seriously about abortion Japanese society is rather tolerant toward such a operation than in occidental countries. Bedsides the cause of pregnancy should give official excuse. Nonetheless she was hesitating and sought advices from a Catholic priest. His answer was ” God take responsibility of all He had done.” The words opened before her a new way, a life with the baby. We might say she offered and dedicated her life to the future child following Jesus’ teaching;- I lay down my life for the sheep(John 10:15)

Our lord Jesus offered his life on the Cross to save us then showed God’s glory through the Resurrection. In other words the Resurrection could not be possible without the Cross. We too must lay down spiritually our life for others’ sake in order to receive anew life. Even though it is very difficult for ordinary humans we must continue making efforts by being empowered by the belief in resurrected Jesus.

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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda