The whole of chapter 10 of John’s gospel is about Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He knows his flock; they recognize his voice and follow him. Others do not follow him. They are thieves and wolves (vv1,8). In vv22-42 Jesus is shown teaching in Jerusalem during the Jewish feast of Hanukkah, the feast of rededication of the altar and reconsecration of the temple in 164 BC after their desecration by the Syrian invaders (Dn 8:13; 9:27; 1 Mc 4:36f; 2 Mc 1:18f).
This Good Shepherd Sunday the focus is given on the response of the sheep; (for the reflection on the good shepherd, cf. BenJeronimo’s s1S#28, April 24, 2021). The true sheep of the Good Shepherd “hear…and follow” him (v.27). In the OT to hear means a careful listening to God and giving heed to him, tantamount to the idea of obeying him, (e.g. Abraham in Gen 22:18; the people in Josh 24:10). This nuance is taken by the NT as well.
The word akouõ (ἀκούω) kept the same sense of ‘listen carefully, pay heed to’ especially to the teaching of Jesus, (Mt 11:15, 17:5; Mk 9:7, Lk 16:29). To follow, akoloutheō ( ακολούθεω ) means to follow with a nuance of ‘becoming devoted, attached to, give one’s allegiance to’, and involving a solemn commitment to a person, as is evident in the disciples’ relationship to Christ their leader, the shepherd, (cf Mt 4:20,25; Mk 1:18, 2:14; Lk 5:27ff; John 1:37ff). In the context of this Sunday’s gospel(10:27-30), to hear and follow the voice of the good shepherd, Jesus, one must be “of God” (8:47), “of the truth”, (18:37; cf Mt 16:16-17 where Peter recognized Jesus as Messiah and Son of God because of the revelation of the Father, two titles mentioned here in John 10:22-39).
We are at the crossroads of Philippine history, for we are to choose our national and local leaders. This exercise of suffrage is a sacred act. It is good to ask ourselves before casting our votes: is our choice a real product of prayer and discernment as our “shepherds” (priests, bishops and Catholic lay leaders) have guided us. Is it “of God, of truth”, or “of thieves and wolves?”. Let us vote for leaders who embody the traits of the Good Shepherd whose life is poured for his sheep ‘that they may not perish…’
