May 7, 2017: Fourth Sunday of Easter/Good Shepherd Sunday

Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He is invested in us, His sheep, putting all of His efforts into caring for them and protecting them, knowing how much they need Him.

As the reading from 1 Peter states, our Shepherd even goes so far as to die for us, that we may live.  And not just live, going through the motions, but having an abundant, rich Life, filled with His Holy Spirit, abiding in His way.  That is the way of Life Peter calls his audience to, who have just witnesses the power of the Spirit descend.

And following in the leadings of the Holy Spirit, we embrace a way of life that brings challenges to us because of those who oppose our faith.  But we have assurance in following a way that leads to Eternal Life, and makes God's glory known now as we endure and let His power shine through us as His transformed people, as we each play our specially unique parts in His plan of redemption, like was said so well at St. Peter's Church in the Loop at Mass this weekend.  

It makes me think about what I've experienced giving of myself as a Religious Education teacher in the year that just ended, as I've sought to shepherd my students into the ways of Eternal Life.

We have assurance because God, when we went astray, died to bring us back into right relationship with Him, so that we may have abundant life unto Eternity.