Happy Fourth Sunday of Easter, my brothers and sisters! We continue the glorious season of Paschaltide by naming this day after one of Jesus’ self-ascribed titles in Scripture: Good Shepherd Sunday. And so, we always read from the tenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel, which records this proclamation. In the immediate context, Jesus has just worked one of His more astounding miracles, the healing of a man who was born blind. And those who have heard the ensuing testimony of the healed man are now grappling with their own reactions. Is it real, or is it fake? Are we witnessing a miraculous gift of the divine, or a disguised evil of the demonic?
In order to clear the confusion, Jesus comments on His own miracle for all to hear. But watch the path He chooses to take. He knows that, ultimately, people will come to the correct conclusion about the mystery of the wonder (is it good or evil?) only if they know the true identity of the wonder worker (is He good or evil?). For an evil man, from the store of malice in his heart, brings forth evil works, whereas a good man, from the store of love in his heart, brings forth good works.
Jesus thus makes an identity claim. Instead of trying to prove the miracle (“let me tell you more about the wonder”), He pitches His own character (“let me tell you more about the wonder worker”). In St. John’s Gospel, Jesus does this on seven occasions, known as the “I AM” statements. John 10 includes two of them: I am the gate for the sheep, and I am the good shepherd. Like a seasoned rabbi, Jesus teaches by using physical images and real-world experiences to distill the truth in a memorable and accessible way.
What does a sheep gate do? First and foremost, it protects. It keeps separate the good things on one side from the bad things on the other. But a sheep gate also controls access. It confirms safe passage to good pasture when opened by the one who holds its key. And the key holder is undoubtedly the shepherd whose personal livelihood is bound together with the welfare of the flock. So, a sheep gate finally heralds the presence of the one whose concern is my personal health and safety, and my place among the flock. If Jesus’ self-proclaimed identity shows Him to be a protector, a presider, and a provider for the blind and vulnerable, then there can be no doubt about the nature of the wondrous works He performs.
At verse 19, strikingly, the whole episode concludes where it started: “There was again a division among the Jews because of Jesus’ words.” Such is the plight of the human heart, which at times can become so wounded by sin and deceit that it loses its grip on the truth of reality. What happens when someone can no longer confidently discern between good and evil? That person is left desperately divided, constantly pulled in opposing directions. The only way to safety for us, my brothers and sisters, is by learning to recognize and heed the voice of the Word who knows what is truly real, because in the beginning He spoke reality into existence.
Fr. Brian