4th Sunday of Easter, Yr. B (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY): Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

Theme: URGENT NEED FOR GOOD SHEPHERDS

(John 10:11–18)

In the face of insecurity, hopelessness, aridity, uncertainties, and fears; fears of the known and the unknown, of the armed, of the forces seen and unseen, of bandits, of kidnappers, of principalities and powers, of ‘chi boo anu ozo’, we really need a shepherd.

We are called to be good shepherds at different levels. We are suffering today because those who were supposed to shepherd us failed us. We need good shepherds in the homes, in the Church, in our various religions, in politics and governance. We need good shepherds now and always. In Christ, we have the good Shepherd. He gives us the LCM of being good shepherds and good sheep.

SELFLESSNESS

Jesus says that the good Shepherd lays down his life. He gave us an example of this on the cross. How ready are you to lay down your life, to sacrifice, to suffer for the good of those entrusted to your care?

We have among us leaders who do not care about the plight of their people. We have leaders who are serving their personal interests and the interests of the enemies of their people. We have leaders who care only about what they will gain and how to hold their staff firm for years of futility. The Good Shepherd, according to the definition of Christ, thinks of giving his life in exchange for his sheep. He wants to lose for the good of his sheep. He gives his all: his time, talents, and treasure. He gives up his pride, he makes himself available, and he is responsive and responsible.

HE IS NOT A WOLF

The Good Shepherd chases away the wolves that come to scatter and kill the sheep. But the bad one flees because he is hired. He doesn’t care for the sheep. The health of the sheep doesn’t matter to him. He will run away to another country when pandemics and epidemics strike, leaving the sheep to perish. He will take his family abroad when insecurity caused by his insensitivity hits the nation. He condones external aggressors who come to feed on his people with insurgency and hidden evil agenda. He, in short, befriends the wolves and becomes a wolf to His sheep. But a Good Shepherd drives far away whatever force that threatens the life and well-being of his sheep. He becomes a sheep and smells like the sheep.

HE KNOWS THE SHEEP AND THEY KNOW HIM

There used to be a time when people and pupils took time to know the names and positions of their leaders as part of current affairs.

But today, we do not know our shepherds because they don’t care about us. They are very far from us. They prefer to shepherd us from abroad. They shepherd us from TV, and their live broadcasts are not even life enough. They read to us what has been written long ago that has nothing to do with our present situations. They do not know how bad our roads are. They do not allow us to see them. They are in their tinted cars. They use jets. What we endure is none of their problem. They do not listen to us. It is sad.

Do you know your sheep as a shepherd? Do you know your children as the Shepherd of your family? Do you really know what they do? Do you have time for them? ‘Onye no mmadu nso na anu ishi onu ya’ (you know someone better when you draw closer to him) when do you come back to your home? When the children return for holidays, do you give them time or send them off for holiday lessons without parental attention? Know your sheep dad and mum.

Church leaders, do you know the faithful entrusted to your care? Do you give them the required pastoral attention? That world ‘shepherd’ is the root of ‘pastor’ and involves pasturing. Do you know the pastoral needs of your flock? Do you give them the real word of God? Do you make yourself available for them to guide, counsel, and direct them? Do you have any special options for the poor and needy, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the sick among them? We need more of good pastors than milkers and milking machines.

CARE FOR THE OTHER SHEEP

There must be other sheep. Jesus affirms in the Gospel: “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.”

I want to understand this as ‘emenyere nwa Ogwugwu, E menyere nwa Anosike…’(Inclusiveness, fairness, justice), E nye ndi ebe a enye ndi ebea (equal distribution). A good leader must be outreaching. He must have an open hand and open heart. A good leader is not supposed to be partial, racial, or discriminatory. He should be Catholic, universal. He should have an open door policy that incorporates everyone. He should carry everyone along.

This is the problem we are facing in our country, Nigeria, and in some other countries. Everything is one-sided. The high rate of marginalization results in the anarchy and chaos we face. Bad leadership is a disease.

Let us always think of the other sheep: the children of your neighbour, other states apart from yours, other religions outside your own, other political zones, other parties, other denominations, and other XYZ. It is a divine mandate to carry all along.

ARISE SHEPHERDS

Let all the Shepherds rise up to their responsibilities. Pastors should be good enough to speak with courage, the truth, and nothing but the truth to their sheep that the enemy is scattering. Let love for money, not silence the voice of reasoning and of righteousness. Let fear of death never put off the passion to save our people from perishing. Let intimidations not make us to be shortchanged. Let’s stand up with our staff to defend our people, encourage their good efforts, and motivate them to be good all the time.

Our political leaders should accept that they have failed us totally. Let them rise and remedy the remediable because the wolves are now in our midst, ready to claw and crush. Let them speak with love, passion, and affection to our people, retrace their steps, and start shepherding us well. Let them lead us well, govern us well, and police well too in the words of African China, the singer.

Let our people change and become good followers. Let us be disposed to allow peace. Let us prepare to fight evil as a people. Let us listen to our good shepherds and flee from bad ones who are as good as wolves.

Let us all at our different levels and in various capacities promote Vocation to the priesthood, to good leadership in the world and be all led into heaven at last.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We need good shepherds urgently, Lord. Do not leave us without them. Forgive us for failing to follow the paths and teachings of Christ the Good Shepherd par excellence. Bless us with visionary leaders. Protect us and keep us safe with Your strong holy hands through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday to you (Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh