This Good Shepherd Sunday is being celebrated in millions of Christian congregations worldwide today, because many Christian denominations use the same lectionary we do: they use the same Scripture texts, sometimes with different translations. In listening to this Gospel, we learn many reasons why Jesus became SO beloved as the Good Shepherd. Jesus sacrificed his life willingly & lovingly, as he sought to equip us with good examples.               

But of course, the Work of God was not completed at the end of the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. In the mystery of God’s loving plan, we never know where the next great example of a Good Shepherd, someone following Jesus Christ, our One and Only Good Shepherd, will appear: some grandparents and relatives are acting on behalf of the Good Shepherd, as they are raising the children of other family members, some of who are suffering with addictions.  Other are donating frequent flyer miles they themselves earned: they are helping get sick people around the US to doctors & hospitals for special medical care. In these cases, the Good Shepherd has given them wings to fly, & to grow healthier.

I have another Good Shepherd example to share with you. In our own lifetime, a book and a musical production entitled “Come from Away” captures the true story of what happened following the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. Planes were diverted from JFK & other New York area airports. 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in the Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. This project became known as Operation Yellow Ribbon. As the story called “Come from Away” unfolds, it details how the people of this little town housed and fed the 7,000 stranded travelers. And it serves to remind ALL of us of our capacity for human kindness, even in the darkest of times, and how the sadness of Good Friday was followed by the joy of Easter Sunday. It also reminds us, as Christian listeners to this true story that contains some fine Beatitude-themed episodes, that with Christ Jesus, risen from death to new life, we as the flock of God DO triumph over ANY form of darkness or division.   

For our meditation beyond this Eucharist, we might ask ourselves later today to reflect on which qualities of the Good Shepherd YOU find to be most central to the Gospel, & even which of Christ’s qualities you want to include in YOUR Christian response to God, others, and yourself. & let us also remember with confidence: Jesus goes before us always. Let us follow him, so that we might have his wisdom, mind, and heart. And just as the Risen Christ always provides for the needs of his flock, may today’s Eucharistic feast bring healing and strength to us all, & for our community of faith.                                  Love, Father Chris