As we prepare for Mass this weekend, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, it might be helpful to know that the Gospel passage we will hear (John 10, 1-10) follows immediately after a big confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Jewish leaders have expelled a man from synagogue calling him a sinner because he was born blind. Jesus gave the man sight, and there was big trouble. In his skillful way, St. John now compares these religious leaders and their way of doing things to Jesus. He describes what is ultimately “God’s way of doing things” … leaving the first readers of the Gospel (and all of us since) to make a choice between leadership: Pharisees or Jesus. What is it going to be: good shepherds or bad shepherds? On top of that, he mentions that Jesus calls the Pharisees “thieves.” No wonder they were hostile toward Him!
Before coming to Mass, be sure to consider this: St. John’s Gospel says over and over again that the full and abundant life Jesus has come to give us is a life of obedience to the Father’s will, of listening to the Father in prayer, and seeking to know and follow the Father’s will at every turn and every decision.
“Full and abundant life” in and through Jesus is also a life of service, not just to those who need and ask for help, but to those who have no voice and have no way of even seeking what they need. That blind man in the story before this one (John 9) did not even know who Jesus was. He never asked for a thing, but Jesus saw his need, responded, and then was gone before the man ever realized what had happened.
Again, this is what St. John’s Gospel is about – “full and abundant life.” It is found, first and foremost, in Jesus – who then offers it to those who will follow His call. It is a life of peace, free of fear and violence, revenge and anger. With those things gone, there is room for joy, laughter, humility, and love centered outside of one’s self and nourishing the human spirit with a goodness which reflects the “Godness” of all things.
